Dense, sticky and heavy: why Venezuela's oil is valuable to Trump – video explainer

Venezuela's oil is a crucial component of US President Donald Trump's foreign policy strategy in the region. The country's vast oil reserves, which have been locked away due to economic sanctions and a crippling economic crisis, hold significant value for the administration.

The Trump administration has long sought to strengthen ties with Venezuela, with a particular focus on exploiting its energy resources. In recent months, the US has imposed stricter sanctions on the Venezuelan government, aimed at pressuring President Nicolás Maduro's regime to open up the country's oil industry to foreign investment and production.

By controlling access to Venezuela's oil, the US can exert significant leverage over the country's leaders. This strategy is particularly appealing to Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his admiration for Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez, a former ally of the US who died in 2013.

The value of Venezuela's oil lies not only in its economic potential but also in its geopolitical significance. The South American nation sits atop some of the world's largest oil reserves, making it a critical player in the global energy market. By securing access to these resources, the US can help stabilize the region and counterbalance the influence of rival powers.

However, critics argue that Trump's obsession with Venezuela's oil is driven by self-interest, rather than a genuine commitment to democracy and human rights in the country. The sanctions regime has had a devastating impact on ordinary Venezuelans, who are struggling to access basic necessities like food and medicine.

As tensions between the US and Venezuela continue to escalate, it remains to be seen whether Trump's strategy will ultimately succeed in securing access to the country's valuable oil resources. One thing is certain, however: the fate of Venezuela's energy industry holds significant implications for the global energy landscape and the future of US foreign policy in the region.

️ Venezuela's oil is like a superpower and Trump wants it so bad . But at what cost? The people of Venezuela are suffering , struggling to find food on their tables and medicine for their families .

I think the US should focus on helping Venezuela with its economic crisis instead of just grabbing its oil . The sanctions regime is like a big screw that's tightening around the country's neck, making it harder for people to survive .

Trump's obsession with Venezuelan oil makes me wonder if he's more interested in his own pocketbook than in helping the world . We need leaders who care about humanity , not just their own interests .

Venezuela's energy industry is like a puzzle piece that needs to be solved , and I hope Trump finds a better way forward . For now, let's keep an eye on this situation and hope for the best .

I think its pretty messed up that the US is so focused on controlling Venezuela's oil . Like, yeah they need the resources but do we really have to crush the country with economic sanctions? It's like Trump is trying to get that sweet, sweet oil without even caring about the people suffering because of it . And honestly, it's a bit shady that he's always talking about Hugo Chávez like hes some kinda idol or something . The dude died over 10 years ago! Anyway, I'm all for Venezuela having their own energy autonomy and not being controlled by the US . Maybe they should just start selling their oil to China instead of the US .

I think its crazy how the US is so invested in Venezuela's oil . Like, they're basically trying to exploit the country just to get ahead in the energy game. Its not like they care about the people living there, right? The sanctions have been devastating for Venezuelans and yet Trump is still pushing forward with this strategy. I mean, whats next? Is he gonna start looking at Cuba's oil too ? This whole thing feels so selfish to me...

I'm telling you, something fishy is going on with this whole Venezuelan oil situation... It's all about the Benjamins, if you ask me. I mean, Trump's been singing Hugo Chávez's praises, but let's be real, Chávez was a puppet for the US all along. This isn't about democracy or human rights; it's about lining Trump's pockets with cash. And what about the sanctions on ordinary Venezuelans? That's just a way to keep them in line while Trump swoops in and grabs the oil riches for himself. I'm not buying it, folks!

Wow I'm actually kinda worried about what's gonna happen next... all these sanctions are having a huge impact on the regular people of Venezuela, and it just doesn't feel right that we're trying to control their resources for our own gain Interesting

idk why trump is so obsessed with venezuela's oil, like what's his plan B? doesn't he care about the ppl struggling there? it's all about the benjamins, right? and btw, chávez was a different story, not like that now

The whole situation with Venezuela's oil just seems so... complicated . On one hand, you got this huge potential for economic growth and stability, but on the other hand, it's basically a nightmare for the regular people living there. I mean, who wants to impose sanctions that make life even harder for the already struggling Venezuelans? It's like, can't we find a way to balance our interests with human rights and stuff? I'm not sure what Trump's endgame is here, but it feels like he's more concerned about getting his hands on that oil than actually helping the Venezuelan people. And what's with this nostalgia for Chávez, btw? He may have been a popular leader, but come on...

The Trump administration's focus on exploiting Venezuela's oil reserves raises concerns about the prioritization of economic interests over humanitarian considerations . By leveraging access to these resources, the US can indeed exert significant influence over Maduro's regime, but at what cost? The devastating impact of sanctions on ordinary Venezuelans is a stark reminder that the pursuit of self-interest can lead to devastating consequences for vulnerable populations . One cannot help but wonder if this strategy is driven by a genuine desire to promote democracy and human rights in Venezuela or merely an attempt to secure a strategic advantage in the global energy market .

I'm low-key loving this whole idea of the US getting control over Venezuela's oil, but at the same time, I'm like totally worried about how it's gonna affect the regular people there . On one hand, it makes sense for the US to want to tap into all that oil - it's a huge resource and all that jazz . But on the other hand, Trump's been super critical of Maduro in the past, so like, what's his angle here? Is he just trying to get rich off Venezuela's resources or is there some kinda plan for saving the country too? I don't know man, it's all kinda confusing and I'm just sitting over here feeling super meh about it .

I'm really concerned about this whole situation with Venezuela's oil. It feels like Trump's all about the benjamins over actually helping people The economic sanctions have been a disaster, causing so much suffering for regular Venezuelans who can barely get by And what's the ultimate goal? To control access to their oil? It's like he's more interested in lining his own pockets than making a real difference

And let's not forget about the environment Venezuela's oil is a finite resource, and we shouldn't be prioritizing profits over sustainability. We need to think about the long-term consequences of our actions, not just what's good for our bottom line

I gotta say, Trump's obsession with Venezuela's oil is pretty sus . I mean, we all know how much he loves Hugo Chávez (or whatever his vibe was, lol). But come on, exploiting a country's resources just 'cause you wanna boost your own economy? That's some old-school imperialist stuff right there . And yeah, it's got nothing to do with the people of Venezuela, who are just trying to survive under these sanctions. It's all about the benjamins for Trump and his crew . I'm not buying it.

Trump's Venezuela oil grab is a recipe for disaster . He's got his eyes on that black gold like it's the last can of beans in the apocalypse . Newsflash: sanctions ain't working out for the average Venezuelan fam . People are starving, and he's over here trying to strong-arm Maduro into selling them a slice of the pie . Meanwhile, the global energy market is about to get a whole lot more complicated . And what's the endgame here? Who gets to profit from this mess? The US or some other country just waiting for an opportunity to swoop in and take advantage? This whole scenario reeks of desperation and greed

I'm not buying it . The US is just using Venezuela as a way to get its hands on some cheap oil . I mean, come on, they're talking about stabilizing the region but all they care about is lining their pockets with gold . And what about the people of Venezuela? They're struggling to survive and the US just throws more sanctions at them like they're nothing . It's a classic case of US imperialism . Can't they just focus on helping the country instead of exploiting its resources for their own gain?

the us trying to get its hands on venezuela's oil is a bit shady if u ask me . trump saying he admires chavez just because they were allies in the past doesn't seem like enough reason to impose stricter sanctions and pressure venezuelan leaders into opening up their country's resources. it's all about control and power, not democracy or human rights

I'm totally stoked about this whole situation - I mean, think about it, Venezuela's got some of the biggest oil reserves on the planet and the US is like "hey, we wanna get our hands on that ". Now, on one hand, you gotta admit, having control over those resources would give the US a pretty sweet deal in terms of global influence . But at what cost? I'm seriously worried about the impact these sanctions are having on ordinary Venezuelans - food and medicine shortages, dude... it's like, come on!

Trump's got this major obsession with Chávez and Venezuela's oil, but is it really driven by a desire to support democracy and human rights or is it just about getting what he wants? I mean, we all know Trump's got some shady business dealings going on in his past, so maybe there's more to this than meets the eye. Either way, this whole situation is super complicated and it's gonna be hard to predict how things play out from here.

Umm, can we really rely on a country with such economic woes to deliver on its oil promises? I mean, have you seen the state of the healthcare system there? It's like they're not even trying anymore . And let's be real, Trump's got some major skeletons in his closet when it comes to Venezuela - he used to be buddies with Chávez, anyone remember that? Anyway, I'm not sure this is just about 'securing access' for the greater good... more like securing a sweet energy deal for the US . The people of Venezuela are suffering, and we should be thinking about how our actions affect them, not just lining our own pockets

I just found out about this thread from a friend and I gotta say, it's kinda wild that the US is so invested in Venezuela's oil. Like, can't they see how much suffering is going on there? The sanctions are killing people left and right. And for what? So Trump can play hero with Chavez's ghost? Not sure if this strategy is gonna backfire or not, but I hope the US is ready to deal with the consequences of messing with Venezuela's economy.

The way trump's all about that venezuela oil is so worrying I mean, i get it, it's a huge resource, but at what cost? The sanctions are killing the people, fam Not just the economy, but basic human needs like food and medicine are suffering. It's not right, you know? And trump's just using venezuela as a tool to flex his muscles in the region Like, is he really trying to help or just show off? The geopolitics are all well and good, but what about the people on the ground? They're the ones who need help, not oil

The whole situation with Venezuela's oil is so complicated . I mean, on one hand, it's true that access to those oil reserves could be super beneficial for the US economy . But at what cost? The sanctions have had a huge impact on ordinary people's lives, and it's not just about oil - it's about food, medicine, everything essential . Trump's obsession with Venezuela's resources is starting to look like a power play, rather than a genuine attempt to help the country . What's really at stake here?