Venezuela’s 300 Billion Barrels of Oil Back in Play After Maduro Arrest [WATCH]

Following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the United States is now positioned to exert significant influence over the future of the world’s largest proven oil reserves, as the Trump administration signals interest in reviving the country’s long-dormant energy sector.

Venezuela, a country nearly twice the size of California, sits atop extraordinary petroleum wealth.

With more than 300 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, the South American nation holds larger reserves than long-established energy producers such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Kuwait.

In case you don’t realize what just happened:

Venezuela holds the LARGEST oil reserves in the world, at 300 billion barrels.

The US is now “running” Venezuela with large US oil companies moving in, according to Trump.

The US now controls the largest oil reserve in the world. pic.twitter.com/cpBfZpTWC6

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) January 3, 2026

Estimates place Venezuela’s reserves at roughly 20 percent of the global total, nearly four times the amount held by the United States.

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Despite the scale of its reserves, Venezuela’s oil industry has been largely incapacitated for years.

Much of the country’s petroleum consists of heavy and extra-heavy crude, which is significantly more difficult and expensive to extract and refine than lighter grades of oil.

Production of this type of crude requires specialized equipment, continuous maintenance, and advanced refining capabilities.

Those systems have steadily deteriorated over the past decade as a result of prolonged underinvestment, U.S. sanctions, political instability, and the collapse of state-run oil company operations.

As infrastructure declined, production fell sharply, leaving much of Venezuela’s oil wealth effectively locked underground.

Comparable situations have unfolded in other energy-rich nations such as Iran and Libya, where political turmoil, financial distress, and degraded infrastructure have limited output despite vast reserves.

In Venezuela’s case, the deterioration has been particularly severe, with refineries, pipelines, and production facilities falling into disrepair.

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump said his administration intends to move quickly to revive Venezuela’s oil industry by encouraging investment from major U.S. energy companies.

Speaking during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said American firms would play a central role in restoring production capacity.

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

.@POTUS: As everyone knows, the oil business in Venezuela has been a bust for a long period of time… We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, and start making money for the country. pic.twitter.com/XWgtcZaGLF

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 3, 2026

Trump did not specify a timeline for the effort or identify which companies might be involved, but his remarks signaled a potential shift in U.S. policy toward direct engagement with Venezuela’s energy sector following Maduro’s removal from power.

So far, American energy companies have stopped short of committing to new operations in Venezuela.

Chevron remains the only major U.S. oil company with a presence in the country, operating under limited authorizations granted by the U.S. government.

Chevron $CVX is up nearly 11% in the overnight markets. They are the only oil company operating in Venezuela, driving the stock price higher. pic.twitter.com/5MCn0KbGoO

— Just a dude who invests (@dudewhoinvests) January 5, 2026

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Chevron said it was monitoring developments while adhering to legal requirements.

“Chevron remains focused on the safety and well-being of our employees, as well as the integrity of our assets,” a company spokesperson said, adding that the firm is following “relevant laws and regulations.”

ConocoPhillips, another major U.S. energy producer with a historical presence in Venezuela, also responded cautiously.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, the company said it is tracking developments and evaluating broader implications.

“ConocoPhillips is monitoring the developments in Venezuela as well as the potential implications for global energy supply and stability,” a spokesperson said.

“It would be premature to speculate on any future business activities or investments.”

CRUDE AWAKENING: President Trump is projecting a multibillion-dollar return to Venezuela’s oil fields to fix a “badly broken” infrastructure hollowed out by years of socialist neglect.

American energy firms have yet to commit, with companies like ConocoPhillips saying it is… pic.twitter.com/20RoUmxSzi

— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) January 4, 2026

Other U.S. oil companies have not publicly commented on whether they would consider reentering Venezuela, where years of nationalization, contract disputes, and sanctions have made foreign investment highly risky.

The prospect of restoring Venezuela’s oil output carries significant implications for global energy markets.

With production currently far below historical levels, any substantial increase could affect global supply dynamics, particularly if U.S. companies are able to rehabilitate infrastructure and bring heavy crude back online at scale.

For now, the administration’s plans remain in early stages.

The focus, according to Trump’s remarks, is on stabilizing and repairing Venezuela’s oil infrastructure while positioning U.S. companies to play a leading role in the sector’s recovery.

How quickly that vision can be realized will depend on regulatory decisions, security conditions, and whether major energy firms decide the potential rewards outweigh the long-standing risks associated with operating in Venezuela.

Good summary from a
Local citizen journalist
In Venezuela
It’s not about the oil…… pic.twitter.com/3wQ1g3bFoD

— Fletch17 (@RealFletch17) January 4, 2026