Hey everyone! Energy meets geopolitics 🌍🛢️. Earlier this week, December 17, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump reignited his call for Venezuela to hand back oil assets seized decades ago.
Trump noted that Caracas nationalized its oil sector in the 1970s under Hugo Chavez and continued under President Nicolas Maduro, pushing out U.S. oil companies and seizing their rights. He says Washington wants those assets returned to American firms.
His deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, called that nationalization the biggest recorded theft of American property, claiming the revenue funded terrorism and drug trafficking.
On December 16, 2025, Trump ordered a total blockade of sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela. He also announced that he considers the Venezuelan government a foreign terrorist organization, though as of Wednesday evening the official FTO list remained unchanged.
Last week, the Pentagon seized an oil tanker near Venezuela’s coast and redirected it to a U.S. port—a move condemned by Caracas as piracy.
Despite sitting on some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves, U.S. imports of Venezuelan crude have fallen sharply over the past decade due to sanctions and political tension. Chevron says its operations under a government waiver have not been disrupted.
For almost four months, U.S. forces have maintained a significant military presence off Venezuela’s coast, saying it targets drug trafficking. Caracas rejects this, accusing Washington of using it to pressure for regime change 🤷♂️. Since early September, U.S. forces have sunk at least 25 vessels suspected of drug smuggling, with reports of 95 fatalities aboard.
However, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration data show Venezuela is not a major source of drugs entering the United States. And a Quinnipiac University poll released on December 17, 2025, found 63% of U.S. adults oppose these military actions, with just 25% in support.
What do you think—does this tough stance on Venezuela make sense, or is it just another power play? Drop your thoughts below! 💬
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
