US President Donald Trump assured oil executives that they would have "total safety" if they invest in Venezuela after the ouster of President Nicolás Maduro, promising to shield them from any risks associated with investing in the country.
The assurance was made as Trump sought to lure big oil companies back into the country, where state asset seizures and ongoing US sanctions have created uncertainty. He claimed that the US would provide direct protection to investors, allowing them to spend at least $100 billion of their own money on Venezuelan oil projects.
The US has been taking control of seized tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, with plans to sell 30 million to 50 million barrels worldwide indefinitely. Trump sees this as an economic opportunity for the US and a way to keep gasoline prices low.
However, some companies have expressed concerns about investing in Venezuela due to commercial frameworks and laws that need changes. ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods stated that significant changes are needed to make the country "investible" again.
The White House has invited oil executives from 17 companies to meet with Trump at the White House, including Chevron, which still operates in Venezuela. The US administration aims to secure $100 billion in investments to revive the country's ability to fully tap into its vast petroleum reserves.
Despite these efforts, some critics have questioned the morality of Trump's actions, calling them "violent imperialism." Public Citizen's energy program director Tyson Slocum said that Trump's goal appears to be to give billionaires control over Venezuela's oil.
Meanwhile, the US and Venezuelan governments are exploring the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations between the two countries. A delegation from the Trump administration arrived in Venezuela on Friday to make a preliminary assessment about reopening the US Embassy in Caracas.
Trump also announced plans to meet with Colombian President Gustavo Petro in early February, despite previously making vague threats against him. The meeting comes after a friendly phone call between the two leaders, which appears to have shifted their tone and highlighted shared interests.
The assurance was made as Trump sought to lure big oil companies back into the country, where state asset seizures and ongoing US sanctions have created uncertainty. He claimed that the US would provide direct protection to investors, allowing them to spend at least $100 billion of their own money on Venezuelan oil projects.
The US has been taking control of seized tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, with plans to sell 30 million to 50 million barrels worldwide indefinitely. Trump sees this as an economic opportunity for the US and a way to keep gasoline prices low.
However, some companies have expressed concerns about investing in Venezuela due to commercial frameworks and laws that need changes. ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods stated that significant changes are needed to make the country "investible" again.
The White House has invited oil executives from 17 companies to meet with Trump at the White House, including Chevron, which still operates in Venezuela. The US administration aims to secure $100 billion in investments to revive the country's ability to fully tap into its vast petroleum reserves.
Despite these efforts, some critics have questioned the morality of Trump's actions, calling them "violent imperialism." Public Citizen's energy program director Tyson Slocum said that Trump's goal appears to be to give billionaires control over Venezuela's oil.
Meanwhile, the US and Venezuelan governments are exploring the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations between the two countries. A delegation from the Trump administration arrived in Venezuela on Friday to make a preliminary assessment about reopening the US Embassy in Caracas.
Trump also announced plans to meet with Colombian President Gustavo Petro in early February, despite previously making vague threats against him. The meeting comes after a friendly phone call between the two leaders, which appears to have shifted their tone and highlighted shared interests.
. But investing in Venezuela, eh? That's like playing a high-stakes game where everyone's safety is at risk 
. Trump's promise of "total safety" for oil executives does sound pretty enticing, but what if it's just a fancy way of saying they'll be shielded from the law? 
It's not all sunshine and rainbows when it comes to this whole deal. Some folks think Trump's goal is just to give billionaires control over Venezuela's oil, which doesn't sit right with me 
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. And hey, at least some folks are speaking out about the morality of Trump's actions – that's what we need more of: tough questions and critical thinking 
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, come on Trump! Can't he just be honest with oil executives for once? Total safety guarantee is pretty vague 
. I don't trust him to keep his promises. It feels like the US is trying to swoop in and take control of Venezuela's oil, leaving them with nothing but debt 
IT SMELLS LIKE HE JUST WANTS TO GET RICH OFF VENEZUELA'S RESERVES AGAINST THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE! 
The US has been all over Venezuela's back, taking control of their tankers and selling off their oil without even giving the government a fair shot at negotiating deals themselves. It feels like they're more interested in lining the pockets of big corporations than actually helping the country. And let's not forget about the whole "billionaires control" thing – it doesn't sound right to me 
. Can't we just find a way to work together and make sure everyone benefits from these investments? 
. Whatever the outcome, I think it's essential to have an open and nuanced discussion about the implications of this policy for both the US and Venezuela. 
he's trying to lure big oil companies back in but some ppl are worried about commercial frameworks & laws needing changes 
do you guys think Trump cares about the people in Venezuela or is he just trying to help his buddies? 
It's also worth considering the concerns of companies like ExxonMobil, which are pushing for changes in commercial frameworks and laws.
. And what about all those concerns from companies like ExxonMobil? It makes sense that they'd want to see some changes in the country's laws before putting their money down 
. Still, you gotta wonder what's really going on behind closed doors 
. And if Trump is trying to give billionaires a free pass, that doesn't sit well with me 
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. It's not all doom and gloom, right? I mean, $100 billion is a whole lotta money 
Of course, there are some legit concerns about commercial frameworks and laws needing to change, but that's just part of the process, right? 
It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out, especially with the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations between the US and Venezuela. 
It feels like business as usual in Washington, and I'm not feeling the transparency at all...