Uncle Sam is stepping into the Venezuelan oil game with a firm grip on the wheel.

After the dramatic ousting of President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces, the Trump administration has unveiled a bold strategy to revive Venezuela’s oil industry, take charge of its sales and revenue through American-managed accounts, and open the door for U.S. oil companies to operate there.

Let’s start with the weekend, when President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would “take control” of Venezuela after Maduro’s removal. That wasn’t just rhetoric; it laid the groundwork for a major policy shift.

Energy Secretary Unveils Ambitious Strategy

By Wednesday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright was spelling out the details at the Goldman Sachs Energy, CleanTech & Utilities Conference in Miami. He outlined a clear plan to restart Venezuelan crude production under strict U.S. supervision.

Wright didn’t hold back on who’s running the show, stating, “Oil sales will be done by the U.S. government and deposited into accounts controlled by the U.S. government.” That’s a power move if there ever was one.

Yet, he framed this as a win for Venezuela’s citizens, too. Wright insists the revenue will eventually return to help the struggling nation. Let’s hope the plan delivers more than promises.

Securing Leverage Over Oil Funds

Diving into the mechanics, Wright emphasized maintaining U.S. influence over the process. “Then from there, those funds can flow back into Venezuela to benefit the Venezuelan people, but we need to have that leverage and that control of those oil sales to drive the changes that simply must happen in Venezuela,” he said.

The strategy extends to marketing Venezuelan oil aggressively. Wright aims to offload both stored crude and future output, particularly to American refineries. It’s a practical boost for domestic energy, if it works.

Behind the scenes, Wright has been engaging U.S. oil executives on the conditions needed to enter Venezuela’s market. These industry leaders are slated to meet at the White House soon to hash out revival plans for the sector.

Paving Way for U.S. Business Interests

A key pillar of this initiative is setting up a friendly environment for American oil companies in Venezuela. This isn’t altruism—it’s a strategic play to secure energy resources while expanding business footprints.

Directing Venezuelan crude to U.S. refineries could shore up energy stability at home. In a volatile global market, that’s no small feat. Still, will this focus sideline Venezuela’s own rebuilding needs?

The administration argues this oversight ultimately aids Venezuelans by channeling funds back to them. It’s a nice pitch on paper. But with America holding the financial reins, skepticism about execution is fair.

Navigating Power and Promises Ahead

As this policy rolls out, striking a balance between control and genuine support will be tricky. U.S. dominance over oil revenue might ensure accountability, yet it could easily be spun as overreach by critics.

For now, the priority is action—restarting production, managing sales, and positioning U.S. firms in a once-hostile landscape. While progressive voices might decry this as meddling, supporters will likely view it as a decisive fix for a broken system.

Time will reveal whether the Venezuelan people see real benefits from this arrangement. Until then, the U.S. is steering the ship, and the world is watching. Let’s hope the destination matches the roadmap.