President Donald Trump told reporters he will visit Venezuela, a declaration that underlines Washington’s rapidly intensifying engagement with Caracas even as many details remain unclear. Speaking at the White House, Trump offered no date or itinerary but said the United States and Venezuela were "working closely" and that large American oil companies were operating in the country, with Venezuela set to receive "a large share" of the proceeds.
The comments came against the backdrop of a high‑profile U.S. energy delegation to Caracas. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright travelled to the Venezuelan capital on Feb. 11 and met the country’s acting president, Nicolás Rodríguez, to discuss co‑operation on natural gas, mining, gold, critical minerals and electricity. Wright told reporters that talks on lifting sanctions are ongoing and that there is no fixed deadline for removing the restrictions.
State media in Beijing reported the meetings and Mr. Trump’s remarks in a tone that stressed U.S. responsibility for recent violence in Venezuela, repeating claims that a U.S. military operation on Jan. 3 had detained President Nicolás Maduro and that Washington intended to "manage" Venezuela until a transition. Washington and Caracas provide sharply different narratives; U.S. officials characterise the engagement as diplomatic and commercial discussions aimed at restoring energy production and addressing humanitarian needs.
The outreach has provoked a domestic backlash in Venezuela. Tens of thousands, according to local reports, demonstrated in Caracas on Feb. 12 against what protesters described as U.S. aggression and an attempt to seize Venezuelan resources. Demonstrators warned of imperialist designs and urged resistance to perceived attempts to control the country’s oil and mineral wealth.
For international audiences, the episode raises three closely linked uncertainties. First, whether a presidential visit materialises and on what political terms would signal whether Washington seeks a direct governance role or a narrower commercial and energy partnership. Second, the entry of U.S. oil companies into Venezuelan fields would reshape the global energy map and test sanctions diplomacy. Third, negotiations over sanction relief, mined commodities and electricity generation could draw in external powers — notably China and Russia — that have long vested interests in Venezuela’s economy and politics.
A U.S. visit would also be a diplomatic litmus test for regional actors. Latin American governments that oppose direct foreign intervention would likely denounce any American operational control, while commodity markets will watch for changes in Venezuelan output. The lack of a clear timeline for sanctions relief means investors and Caracas’ populace face continued political and economic uncertainty even as talks proceed.