Maduro Claims Trump Wants Venezuela's Oil. Does He?

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of seeking to seize his country's vast oil reserves. The allegation revives a long-standing geopolitical conflict. Venezuela sits on the world's largest proven oil deposits. However, its production has collapsed due to years of underinvestment, U.S. sanctions, and economic crisis. Restoring output to former levels would require massive foreign investment and expertise. Analysts note that U.S. policy has consistently aimed to remove Maduro's government, citing authoritarian practices. Securing stable oil supplies is a secondary, though significant, strategic interest. The U.S. State Department has historically framed its goal as supporting democracy in Venezuela, not seizing resources. With Trump running for president again, Maduro's statement highlights oil as a central issue in ongoing tensions.