Venezuela’s Oil Is a Focus of Trump’s Campaign Against Maduro

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 9 min read 100% complete by Edward Wong and Julian E. BarnesDecember 16, 2025 at 11:02 AM

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long article 9 min

A 2025 article reports that the Trump administration's public justification for confronting Venezuela, curbing drug trafficking, contrasts with its behind-the-scenes focus on accessing the country's vast oil reserves. Venezuela possesses the world's largest oil reserves, approximately 17% of the known total. Secret negotiations between U.S. officials and Nicolás Maduro, along with discussions between Trump's aides and Venezuelan opposition figures like María Corina Machado, highlight this interest. Machado, Venezuela's main opposition leader, has actively promoted the country's oil and gas potential to American businesses and politicians, emphasizing a $1.7 trillion opportunity. While the White House cites drug trafficking as the primary concern, the article suggests that gaining control of Venezuela's oil is a significant, underlying motivation.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States ×240% Donald Trump Jr. 50% María Corina Machado ×260% Nicolás Maduro ×370% Venezuela ×980%

Keywords

venezuela oil reserves 100% drug trafficking 70% u.s. foreign policy 60% oil drilling 50% political campaign 50% autocratic leader 40% opposition leader 40%