Donald Trump confirmed for the first time publicly that he had held discussions with major American oil companies on a scenario following regime change in Venezuela. The statement was made during an appearance at Mar-a-Lago, during which Trump presented a … new naval program dubbed the “Trump class” of warships.
He was asked if he had spoken to American companies whose assets had been expropriated in Venezuela about what might happen after the departure of Nicolas MaduroTrump responded directly: “Yes, I did. With all the big guys. He didn’t offer more details or elaborate on the content of those conversations before moving on to the next question.”
These statements come in a context of growing tensions between Washington and Caracas. Maduro remains in power after the 2024 presidential elections, the results of which the United States does not recognize and officially condemns, for lack of democratic guarantees. Since then, the Trump administration has increased its naval presence in the Caribbean.
Chasing a third ship
Meanwhile, the US Coast Guard is currently pursuing a third oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, after intercepting two vessels in previous operations. Additionally, U.S. forces have carried out bombings against small ships they accuse of transporting drugs to the United States. The White House justified these operations as part of the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime.
However, different sources have pointed to broader motivations within the administration. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair magazine, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles suggested that Trump would in fact seek regime change in Venezuela, although the president himself has not expressed this explicitly in official terms.
Trump has offered shifting explanations for his strategy toward Venezuela, with regime change still on the horizon. He repeatedly discussed drug trafficking, regional security and the country’s internal political situation. He also alluded to American energy interests, in particular to oil deposits that belonged to American companies before the expropriations carried out under the regimes of Hugo Chávez and then Maduro.
Trump said about 1.9 million barrels had already been confiscated and that this oil would not be returned to Caracas.
Crude oil under American control
Neither the White House nor the companies mentioned provided additional details about the conversations cited by the president. It has also not been clarified whether there are specific plans for asset restitution or participation of American companies in the Venezuelan energy sector in a possible political transition scenario.
The United States also announced that it would keep under its control Venezuelan crude oil seized in recent maritime operations. Trump said about 1.9 million barrels had already been confiscated and that this oil would not be returned to Caracas. As he explained, the crude oil could be sold on the international market or incorporated into the US strategic reserve, while the intercepted ships would also remain in Washington’s custody.
These actions are part of a broader offensive against Chavismo that combines military pressure, economic sanctions and a maritime ban. In recent weeks, the United States has intensified the siege of the so-called Venezuelan ghost fleet, with the persecution and seizure of several tankers used to export crude oil outside of sanctions, as part of a strategy to cut off sources of financing for the Maduro regime and dismantle the logistical networks that connect Venezuelan oil to third countries.
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