Venezuela is suddenly back on the radar of U.S. investors, and it’s not hard to see why. After former President Donald Trump ordered the removal of Nicolás Maduro, talk in business and financial circles has shifted quickly from politics to profits.
Politically connected U.S. business groups are now looking for the fastest path into Caracas. Their goal is to scout investment opportunities in Venezuela, a country overflowing with oil, gas, and mineral wealth, and one that many believe could finally be opening its doors after years of isolation.
Some investors say the potential upside is massive, even historic. They describe Venezuela as a once-in-a-generation opportunity, comparing it to the economic opening that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves. But tapping that oil won’t be easy. The country needs new pipelines, rebuilt roads, upgraded ports, housing projects, hospitals, and basic infrastructure across the board. For U.S. companies, that long to-do list looks less like a problem and more like a business opportunity.
And it’s not just oil. Investors are also eyeing huge reserves of natural gas, gold, diamonds, and other minerals. Venezuela is larger than Texas, and U.S. officials have made it clear they want Washington to play a central role in rebuilding the country’s economy. In financial chat groups, future Venezuelan bonds are already a hot topic, assuming U.S. sanctions are eventually eased.
Still, the risks are hard to ignore. Critics warn that investing in Venezuela could mean pouring money into a fragile state with a long history of broken contracts and asset seizures. For now, though, that hasn’t scared everyone away.
“Years ago it was all about oil. Now we’re talking about some of the largest natural gas reserves in the world, which usually means there’s even more oil nearby,” said Hans Humes, chairman of Greylock Capital Management, which holds Venezuelan debt. “Add minerals, gold, diamonds, and you’ve got enormous commodity wealth. People talk about reducing risk, but anyone in commodities knows political risk comes with the territory.”
The new Venezuelan leadership, led by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, now faces a major challenge. It must convince foreign investors that the era of heavy-handed state control known as Chavismo is truly over and that the country can offer legal certainty and a friendlier business climate.
Experts say that won’t happen overnight. Years of economic mismanagement triggered a massive brain drain, sending engineers, scientists, and skilled professionals abroad. Rebuilding that human capital will take time.
Trump, for his part, has signaled strong support for Rodríguez’s government. He has praised recent moves such as the release of political prisoners and said the two countries are working closely together to rebuild Venezuela’s oil and gas infrastructure in a bigger, better, and more modern way.
Speaking at a White House meeting with oil executives, Trump described Venezuela’s new leaders as potential allies. He promised security guarantees for companies willing to return and said new energy deals could tightly link the economies of two major energy powers in the Western Hemisphere.
Not every company is rushing in. Some executives say optimism is growing, but only if the right conditions are met, especially stronger legal protections.
Trump also signed an executive order blocking lawsuits from seizing Venezuelan oil revenue held in U.S. Treasury accounts. The White House says the funds remain sovereign property of Venezuela and are being preserved to support U.S. foreign policy goals.
This move comes despite long-standing disputes with Western oil giants. Exxon is still owed roughly 1 billion dollars, while ConocoPhillips claims nearly 9 billion dollars after their assets were nationalized years ago. Trump made it clear those losses won’t factor into future deals, telling executives that the focus should be on making new money, not recovering old losses.
Exxon CEO Darren Woods said Venezuela remains uninvestable for his company unless major changes are made to its legal and commercial systems.
Back in Caracas, officials are eager for American dollars to revive the struggling economy. The local currency has continued to weaken, and foreign investment is seen as critical to stabilization. Rodríguez, a former finance minister, is said to understand the importance of rebuilding ties with international markets.
In 2023, Venezuela delayed repayment of about 60 billion dollars to international bondholders, choosing to preserve claims rather than default outright. The strategy was aimed at keeping the door open until U.S. sanctions are lifted.
Some investors never fully left. In recent years, a handful quietly bought undervalued non-oil assets, carefully navigating sanctions. One of them, Venezuelan investor Daniel Rottenberg of Arqos Capital, began purchasing prime real estate in Caracas in 2019.
According to Rottenberg, the private sector recovery that started a few years ago largely flew under the global radar, even as the economy began growing around 5 percent a year after hitting bottom in 2020. His firm transformed abandoned corporate offices into tech hubs and co-working spaces.
Since Maduro’s removal, interest has surged. Rottenberg says he’s received hundreds of messages from global investors, ranging from large funds to foundations, all asking the same question: how to invest in Venezuela.
“It’s still extremely difficult to deploy capital there,” he said. “The demand is huge, and absorbing that much money won’t be easy.”
Even so, optimism remains. With higher oil production and private sector support, some investors believe Venezuela’s economy could double within three years. After a collapse of roughly 75 percent between 2013 and 2019, the country is starting from a very low base.
Consultants and asset managers are also taking notice. Charles Myers of Signum Global Advisors is planning a potential investor trip to Venezuela, citing cautious optimism despite massive infrastructure challenges.
“When countries come out of situations like this, they can rebuild much faster than people expect,” Myers said. “Many are still missing just how big the opportunity could be.”
