US investment in Venezuela focuses on oil, says newspaper

To defend this, the publication cited a speech by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless fight to end decades of dictatorship in her country.

During a business conference in Miami last month, which was attended by American executives and politicians, including President Trump, she spoke of a “1.7 trillion dollar opportunity” within Venezuela, highlighting the resources available in the country, such as the large oil and gas reserves.

In her speech, she said Venezuelans are willing to “open everything – exploration, transportation and refining – to all companies.” She also mentioned mineral resources and energy infrastructure.

O Times mentions that, behind the scenes, government officials have been intensely focusing on Venezuela’s oil reserves, considered the largest in the world, through secret negotiations with the Nicolás Maduro regime and conversations between White House advisors with the opposition leader and her internal allies.

On Tuesday (16), President Donald Trump ordered “the total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela”, which represents another step in the White House’s escalation of pressure on the Nicolás Maduro regime.

Trump stated in his Truth Social account that Venezuela “is surrounded” by the “largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America” ​​and that the commotion will be like never before until they “return all the oil, land and other assets they previously stole” from the United States.