Trump opens Venezuela’s oil to US companies after military operation

US oil firms to move into Venezuela

President Donald Trump said the United States would allow American oil companies to enter Venezuela and tap its vast crude reserves following a US military operation against the country’s leadership, arguing that Washington-backed investment would revive the struggling energy sector.

Speaking after the operation, Trump said Venezuela’s oil industry had been a “bust” and claimed that major US companies would move in to repair damaged infrastructure and restore production.

“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country,” Trump said.

Trump said the oil business in Venezuela had collapsed under the current leadership and suggested American firms would play a central role in rebuilding the sector and generating revenue.

He also issued a warning of further military action if required, saying the United States was “ready” to carry out a second and “much larger” attack on the country.

Trump said US forces had initially prepared for a “second wave” of strikes and had assumed further action would be necessary. However, he suggested the scale and success of the overnight operation meant additional attacks were now unlikely.

Given the outcome of last night’s attack, Trump said it “probably would now not be” necessary to proceed with further military action.

The comments underscore Washington’s intention to reshape Venezuela’s political and economic future following the military operation, with the country’s oil sector emerging as a central focus of US plans.