Bloomberg Businessweek Oil Chiefs Lukewarm as Trump Pushes $100 Billion Venezuela Plan
Jan 9, 2026
Ellen Wald, an expert on energy policy, discusses the caution shown by U.S. oil executives regarding investment in Venezuela, emphasizing the need for stable legal frameworks. Rockford Weitz analyzes the geopolitical implications of Russia and China in Venezuela, highlighting their strategic interests in the region. Chief economist Gregory Daco examines the labor market's slowdown and explores how Venezuelan oil could influence inflation, revealing potential AI benefits for economic resilience.
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Venezuela Oil Is High Cost And High Risk
- Venezuelan oil is expensive and technically hard to produce, requiring billions in upgraders and time.
- Companies need rule of law, political stability, and contract assurances before committing large investments, Ellen Wald said.
Venezuela As Geopolitical Oil Leverage
- The U.S. may not need Venezuelan oil now but could use it to replace Russian supplies and gain foreign-policy leverage.
- Ellen Wald argued Venezuela could be strategically valuable long-term despite current adequate supplies.
Give Long-Term Guarantees To Attract Investment
- Provide multi-term assurances if you want oil companies to invest in long projects beyond a presidential term.
- Ellen Wald recommended demonstrating durable safeguards and a coherent long-term oil strategy to secure corporate commitments.
