Trump Demands $100 Billion from Oil Giants to Revive Venezuela’s Industry—Energy Markets Brace for Impact

Former President Trump is reportedly shaking up global energy markets with a staggering demand: $100 billion from major oil firms to restart Venezuela’s crippled oil industry. The move signals a potential seismic shift in both geopolitical and financial landscapes.

The Price of Entry

Sources close to the negotiations reveal the figure isn’t a suggestion—it’s a direct ask. The $100 billion would serve as a massive capital injection, aiming to bypass years of underinvestment and sanctions that have left Venezuela's infrastructure in tatters. Analysts are calling it a high-stakes gamble on political and economic reopening.

Market Mechanics in Motion

This isn't just about drilling wells. A deal of this magnitude would instantly reroute global capital flows, forcing traditional energy investors to recalculate risk in a region long considered off-limits. The sheer scale suggests a play for control, not just access—a move that could reshape OPEC dynamics and energy security doctrines overnight.

The Finance Angle (With a Dash of Cynicism)

Wall Street is watching with a mix of intrigue and skepticism. For oil execs, $100 billion is a number that makes portfolio managers sweat—enough capital to fund a small nation's GDP or, as one trader quipped, 'about twenty thousand overhyped crypto projects that actually deliver something tangible.' The bet hinges entirely on political winds staying favorable, a notoriously fickle commodity.

Bottom Line: High Risk, Higher Stakes

If it moves forward, this deal cuts through decades of policy paralysis. It bypasses traditional diplomatic channels, placing enormous financial leverage directly in corporate hands. The outcome could either unlock one of the world's largest oil reserves or become a masterclass in stranded assets. Either way, the global energy playbook is being rewritten—with nine zeros attached.

Executives say Venezuela is too risky right now

Darren, who runs Exxon, said:-

“We have had our assets seized there twice and so you can imagine to re-enter a third time WOULD require some pretty significant changes from what we’ve historically seen and what is currently the state. Today it’s uninvestable.”

Others nodded. No one disputed that Venezuela is packed with oil. But there’s no trust. Years of chaos, disinvestment, and U.S. sanctions have left the industry gutted. Production is stuck around 1 million barrels a day, barely a blip in global supply.

Chevron, still operating there, says it handles about 20% of the country’s output. They’re ready to scale, but only if Washington clears the path. Exxon plans to send a team to take a look. Repsol said it’s pumping 45,000 barrels daily and could triple that number, but only if conditions improve. Eni didn’t promise anything, but they’re still in the mix.

Bill Armstrong, who runs a small U.S. drilling firm, was more blunt. “We are ready to go to Venezuela,” he said. “In real estate terms, it is prime real estate.”

No one talked about dropping $100 billion though.

Trump wants total control of Venezuela’s oil

While the oil bosses were dodging commitment, Trump made it clear who’s in charge. The White House says it’s easing sanctions just enough to allow some oil sales, but only under strict U.S. control. Any money from those sales will end up in U.S.-held accounts.

Officials say they’re working with interim authorities now led by Delcy Rodríguez, who used to be Maduro’s second-in-command. But Trump still plans to call the shots. The administration will choose which companies get access. The rest stay out.

This week, the U.S. seized multiple oil tankers loaded with crude that was still under sanctions. They’re building a structure to control the Flow and profits.

Energy analysts aren’t sold. Claudio from Rystad Energy said Trump’s idea might only work with subsidies and political calm. He said it would take $8 billion to $9 billion every year just to triple Venezuela’s production by 2040.

“It’s going to be difficult to see big commitments before we have a fully stabilised political situation and that is anybody’s guess when that happens,” he said.

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