President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order aimed at protecting revenue from Venezuelan oil, a move the White House says is designed to prevent the money from being tied up in court battles and to support efforts to stabilize the country after years of political and economic turmoil.
The order was made public on Saturday in the United States and comes as the Trump administration ramps up its involvement in Venezuela following the dramatic capture and removal of longtime leader Nicolás Maduro, Trump says the policy is necessary to ensure oil funds are not seized through legal claims that could derail US plans for economic recovery and political transition in the oil rich nation.
According to the executive order, if Venezuelan oil revenues were allowed to be pulled into judicial proceedings, it could undermine what the administration calls critical US efforts to promote stability in Venezuela, The document states that the money remains the property of Venezuela but is being held by the United States for governmental and diplomatic purposes, placing it beyond the reach of private lawsuits or claims.
The decision lands at a moment of growing concern among global energy executives who have warned that Venezuela remains a risky place to invest.
During a White House meeting on Friday with nearly 20 oil industry leaders, ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods offered a blunt assessment of the current situation.
“If you look at the commercial frameworks in place today in Venezuela, it’s uninvestable,” Woods told Trump, citing legal uncertainty, damaged infrastructure, and years of political instability.
Trump used the meeting to reassure executives that his administration is working to remove those barriers.
He told industry leaders that companies would deal directly with the US government rather than negotiating with Venezuelan authorities, a move intended to reduce risk and provide clearer rules for doing business.
Venezuela’s troubled history has long scared off investors.
The country has faced repeated state seizures of assets, strict US sanctions, and decades of political upheaval that have left its once powerful oil sector in disrepair.
Despite holding some of the largest proven oil reserves in the world, Venezuela’s production has collapsed due to underinvestment and mismanagement.
The Trump administration now sees an opening.
Getting US oil companies involved in rebuilding Venezuela’s energy infrastructure has become a top priority, especially as Washington seeks to reshape the country’s economy after Maduro’s removal.
White House officials have framed the effort in economic terms, arguing that restoring oil output is key to making Venezuela financially stable again.
Trump has already taken aggressive steps.
He has ordered the seizure of tankers carrying Venezuelan crude and announced that the US is taking over the sale of between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil that had previously been sanctioned.
The administration says it plans to control those oil sales worldwide for an indefinite period.
“I love the Venezuelan people, and I am already making Venezuela rich and safe again,” Trump wrote on social media Saturday while visiting southern Florida, thanking those involved in what he described as a historic turnaround.
From a legal standpoint, the executive order is grounded in the National Emergencies Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Trump argues that the possibility of oil revenues being frozen or seized through court actions represents an unusual and extraordinary threat to US national interests.
By invoking emergency powers, the administration says it can protect the funds and use them in support of broader policy goals.
Trump has also been vocal about the scale of investment he expects to see.
During his meeting with oil executives, he predicted a rapid agreement that would lead major energy companies to commit at least 100 billion dollars to Venezuela, roughly equivalent to Rp4,500 trillion.
That money, he said, would go toward rebuilding refineries, pipelines, ports, and other critical infrastructure needed to restart large scale oil production.
In another major announcement, Trump said Venezuela would hand over as much as 50 million barrels of oil to the United States.
At current market prices, the cargoes are valued at about 2.8 billion dollars, or around Rp126 trillion.
The oil will be sold, with proceeds intended to benefit both countries, though officials have yet to release detailed information on how the revenue will be shared or managed.
The move represents a significant expansion of US economic influence in Venezuela.
Analysts say it also deals a blow to China, which had been Venezuela’s largest oil buyer and a close partner of the previous government.
With Washington now controlling sales of Venezuelan crude, Beijing’s role in the country’s energy sector is expected to shrink.
Bloomberg reports that Trump is preparing for additional meetings with energy executives as the administration works to line up Western companies for Venezuela’s reconstruction.
Officials believe that bringing in major players such as ExxonMobil and Chevron, along with European firms, could speed up recovery and restore production levels over time.
Still, the strategy is not without controversy.
Some experts question whether the United States has the legal or moral authority to manage another country’s oil revenue, even under the banner of stability and rebuilding.
Others warn that heavy handed control could spark new geopolitical tensions, particularly in Latin America.
For Venezuela, the short term impact could be an influx of capital and expertise desperately needed to revive its energy sector.
In the longer term, much will depend on how transparently and fairly the oil money is used, and whether it truly benefits the Venezuelan people rather than becoming another source of international power struggles.
As developments continue to unfold, the world will be watching closely.
Future agreements with oil companies, responses from Venezuela’s transitional leadership, and reactions from global powers could determine whether this bold move reshapes Venezuela’s future or deepens existing divides.
