Trump says US is taking control of Venezuela&#x2019;s oil reserves. Here&#x2019;s what it means

Quoting Ferna

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{quote} They will be given jobs and opportunity - do not worry. They can feel safe and taken care of. And they are free from dictatorship.

Ignored

Fantastic insights. Great to hear someone from the Whitehouse giving us these assurances. Appreciate your first hand knowledge of the situation on the ground.

NotAtrader

Jan 4, 2026 12:52am

Quoting DwnUndrTrdr

Disliked

{quote} Fantastic insights. Great to hear someone from the Whitehouse giving us these assurances. Appreciate your first hand knowledge of the situation on the ground.

Ignored

Jan 4, 2026 10:07am — Edited

A very dangerous gambit this oil grab by Trump and the radicals he's surrounded with. What could go wrong?

- wtf does Trump mean when he says we will be "running the country"? Does he expect 50 years of Bolivarian sentiment to be erased so easily? At some point, there will be further conflict. If US troops are deployed in-country to perform police or "counter-terrorism" functions, then some of them will die. Will the US public have Trump's back when US service men are coming home in body bags?

- the idea is, by seizing Venezuela, Trump will "give" US oil companies control of the Venezuelan petrochemical industry. In exchange for the stolen oil, said companies will make investments so as to increase the output. I wonder, which oil companies will gladly go along with this? I'm not saying many won't, but some might decline.

- Actually, the premise that Venezuela has stolen oil that somehow belongs to the USA is a lie. Foreign petro companies made investments in the Venezuelan oil industry, but they were richly rewarded.

AI content
Foreign companies initially held near-total control, but Venezuela gradually increased its share, moving from significant royalties to a 50/50 profit split by 1948, then gaining majority ownership in the 1970s, culminating in the 1976 nationalization where the state (PDVSA) fully took over, ending foreign dominance in extraction, though later joint ventures involved foreign partners with majority state control.

Early Era (Pre-1948): Foreign Dominance: Foreign firms, largely American and European, controlled exploration and production, with Venezuela receiving royalties and taxes.

The 50/50 Agreement (1948-1970s): Venezuela pioneered the "fifty-fifty" revenue sharing model, meaning the government received roughly half the profits, significantly increasing state revenue.

Increased Participation & Nationalization (1970s): Global trends saw oil-producing nations seeking greater control, and Venezuela negotiated for more participation, achieving higher ownership stakes. This culminated in the 1976 nationalization, when the state took over all oil operations, creating PDVSA and removing foreign companies like Exxon, Gulf, and Mobil from direct control.

Post-Nationalization & Modern Era: Opening Up (1990s): Venezuela later opened up the sector to foreign investment through joint ventures, but under rules ensuring PDVSA held majority ownership (usually >50%).

Chávez Era & Beyond (2000s+): Policies mandated majority state control (PDVSA) in all projects, though major companies (Chevron, CNPC, Total, etc.) partnered with PDVSA on specific projects.

In essence, foreign companies' share went from near 100% to a 50% share, then to minority partners in state-majority ventures after nationalization in 1976

gatorinla

Jan 4, 2026 7:45pm

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by Japan's naval and air forces."

"Yesterday, January 3, 2026—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America suddenly and deliberately attacked Venezuela naval, air forces and army."

The common denominator is both attacks were about the attacker wanting oil.

Jade Gate

Jan 4, 2026 3:01am

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Jan 4, 2026 10:10am — Edited

This is a story that is repeating in similar ways to past chapters. Iran nationalized its oil industry in 1951 and the CIA quickly cut short that idea:

Iran nationalized its oil industry in 1951 under Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, with legislation passed in March to transfer control from the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) to the newly formed National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). This move, driven by desires for economic sovereignty, led to international backlash and a CIA-backed coup in 1953 that temporarily reversed some gains but set the stage for full state control later.

Key Details:
When: The process began in early 1951, with parliamentary votes in March.
Who: Led by Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and the National Front coalition.
Why: To end foreign exploitation (primarily British) and gain control over Iran's vast oil resources for national benefit.
Result: Creation of the NIOC and significant geopolitical shifts, including the 1953 coup.

Jan 4, 2026 10:14am

Mexico nationalized its oil industry in the 1930's. That is memorialized in a National holiday - Oil Expropriation Day - March 18. So, should the US invade Mexico because they "stole our oil"?

AI content
Mexico nationalized its oil industry on March 18, 1938, when President Lázaro Cárdenas signed a decree expropriating foreign oil companies' assets, creating the state-owned company PEMEX (Petróleos Mexicanos) to manage all petroleum operations and marking a major symbol of Mexican sovereignty.

Key Details:
The Act: President Cárdenas seized the properties of foreign oil firms (like Royal Dutch/Shell and Standard Oil) in response to labor disputes and to assert national control over resources.
PEMEX: The government established Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) (Pemex) to take over all exploration, extraction, refining, and marketing.
National Holiday: March 18th is now celebrated as "Oil Expropriation Day" in Mexico, a significant national holiday.
Context: This action followed conflicts over labor rights and was rooted in Article 27 of Mexico's Constitution, which established national ownership of subsoil resources.

Jan 4, 2026 12:18pm

Quoting Ferna

Disliked

{quote} The new Administration is doing great stuff, that one day will benefit the whole of humanity....

Ignored

Your leaps of faith and capacity for wishful thinking are truly Herculean.

Jwosjw

Jan 4, 2026 1:11am

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Riziq-Cap

Jan 4, 2026 12:03pm

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I spent 2 hours searching for the original article, but could not find it, but this one mentions the important information - it mentions last month: last month refer to final days of December, which was when I read it.

This is the IRGC construction wing of Iran, they are only involved in high national security projects in dangerous zones- Iran have had close relations with Venezuela for years, especially when the JCPOA was torn apart by orange man on behalf of his handlers. Including rehabilitating Venezuelas oil terminals.

Some of the tankers seized close to Venezuela the past months, are actually Iranian - Iran responded by seizing US tankers from the Persian gulf, tit for tat. Iranian media did not report on it, but the seizures happened one after the other. The recent tanker that escaped and changed registration to Russian, then painted Russian flag on the hull, was rumored to be Iranian.

What is interesting, is almost 10 days ago, IRGC reported it cancelled this project, initially I assumed it was part of a deal Venezuela reached to avoid invasion - but then US strikes continued, I kinda shelved it off, however I now believe this is all connected given most recent events, it seems Venezuela or its military junta have capitulated in some way, this include handing over Maduro.

This is just speculation obviously, but more plausible than the official narrative.

Jan 4, 2026 11:48am

Quoting Schultz

Disliked

{quote} Outside of the US, Marco Rubio is not someone well known as compared to Trump. I understand that Mr Rubio is principal advisor in matters of foreign affairs. In the meantime, Trump speaks for all of the USA.

Ignored

Rubio is US Secretary of State. This is arguably the most powerful cabinet position - The Scty of State is #4 in the line of succession to the Presidency, higher than any other Cabinet member.

For a while there, it looked like Rubio would become Viceroy of Venezuela? Gosh, I wonder what happened?

Many are saying Rubio has become heir apparent to Trump. One person you don't see so much anymore is JD Vance. Where is JD?

Jan 4, 2026 12:51pm

Quoting Ferna

Disliked

{quote} Seems like a change of heart from the U.S. Could Venezuela have some capability of destroying their own oil?

Ignored

You'd really have to be simple to believe the Trump regime gives 2 shits about the "Venezuelan People." I'm sure the backroom geniuses who are paid to think things through saw the risks of doing nation building and they will just settle in for a project to take the oil. They can lock down some oil fields, pipelines, refineries, and ports and proceed with the raping and the pillaging of the black sticky gold. Or, so they think. Ask some of Venezuela's neighbors who has been blowing up their oil and gas pipelines during the last 20 years or so. Easy to see this whole thing turning sour pretty quickly.

Riziq-Cap

Jan 4, 2026 3:19am — Edited

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This is the first picture released

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This is the second released (edit, this is confirmed fake, I got this from a news website, but its removed now explaining the mistake)

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This is the most recent.

3 outfits in 24h period, I get he is head of state - did they package his wardrobe while they kidnapped him? or is some of these fake photos? Probably most fortified country in Latin America.

Jan 4, 2026 1:20pm — Edited

Quoting Ferna

Disliked

{quote} The digital systems and infrastructure is in place my friend. 99% of the stablecoins are denominated in dollar, any future modern transaction will be tied to the dollar - atleast the digital one. So the debt will be paid in the currency it is denominated in, meaning if the dollar devalues it will be like paying back the debt in yen. These stablecoins and their issuers are actively buying U.S bonds. It's the strategy of making yourself the only viable choice, via technology and control of the money system. If it's embedded in the system someone...

Ignored

The fact that stablecoins are mostly tied to the USD stems from the reason that USD is the world's no.1 reserve currency. But that doesn't mean the demand will stay the same forever. USD's position as the reserve currency is threatened just like yen. Due to the rapid decline in value in the recent years. IMF data proves this, as of December 2025 USD's share as the reserve currency sits at 57%, the peak was 72% at 2001.

The world seems to be reverting back to holding Gold as the main reserve, since confidence in the fiat currencies are declining rapidly. Not just USD but all of them. Well, this is the fate of the all fiat currencies, they always lose to the inflation.

Stablecoins basically work like this: They try to balance the supply of the coin and holdings of the underlying asset (in this case its USD) to the point where the price of a coin matches 1:1 to the underlying asset. Thats how 1 coin equates to 1 dollar.

It's not hard to create these stablecoins, for example Tether, the creator of USDt also created XAUt, which is a stablecoin pegged to the value of Gold. So the point is if the reserve currency changes, stablecoins can change as well.

The path to remaining as the no.1 stablecoin follows the same path as remaining the main reserve fiat currency: 1. Little to no inflation 2. stable, not so volatile price 3. trust in it's value.

So you got it backwards, stablecoins being tied to USD doesn't strengthen USD's place as the reserve currency. It's the opposite. These stablecoins are tied to the USD bc USD is the number 1 reserve currency. So in case of a shift in the reserve currency status, preferred stablecoins will change as well. Be it XAUt, Eurot etc. you name it, whatever.

Please stop spreading misinformation. You are underqualified for these topics, you got it backwards.

Btw Trump admin doesn't do any favors for USD's reserve currency status, since Trump wants a weaker dollar for higher growth. Especially with the new FED chairman that Trump will appoint, trust in USD will continue to decline. Speeding up the rate cuts will also result in a weaker dollar too. So for now it's easy to say USD will keep bleeding this year as it bled for the most of 2025. Which also means reserve currency status will continue to jeopardize.

All in all your post is highly indoctrinated, far from objective, and again ignorant in terms of finance.

NotAtrader

Jan 4, 2026 4:51pm

Quoting Nordling

Disliked

{quote} I just can't stand ignorant people spewing misinfo. If you don't talk nonsense, you won't get it handed to you. Simple. {image}

Ignored

And then the loser says "Socrates is a fucking idiot"!

Schultz

Jan 4, 2026 10:45am — Edited

Quoting Jr123

Disliked

{quote} Sounds like law of the jungle or what's yours is mine.

Ignored

The sovereignty of other countries is an inconvenience to the ability of the US to enrich themselves.

The culture that is so obvious (well, to the rest of the world, anyway) is that of a sociopath or bully who does not understand why other people don't like them very much.

I think it would be reasonable to suggest that the USA considers itself a Christian country. "In God we Trust" is printed on its dollar bills. The USA has been blessed in so many ways, and considers itself to be the richest country in the world. The most free and democratic.

To whom much is given, much shall be expected.

Jan 4, 2026 10:45am

Quoting Ferna

Disliked

so we still got green energy if any country want

Ignored

Fair point, Ferna, to a degree. I drive a gas powered car, so I'm open to being called a hypocrite. I'm not anti fossil fuels, though. Just anti-thug.

Jan 4, 2026 11:13am

Quoting Ferna

Disliked

{quote} That debt of yours- consider it cancelled, it's on the house.

Ignored

lol...ok. I guess if we become a pariah (like Trump's favorite country, Russia) and nobody will buy our debt anymore, at least we have the biggest military on Earth and can just take whatever we need or want. This is something a true Viking could relate to.

Jr123

Jan 4, 2026 8:23am

Quoting Ferna

Disliked

{quote} They will be given jobs and opportunity - do not worry. They can feel safe and taken care of. And they are free from dictatorship.

Ignored

Sounds like the American people will be quite jealous of their good fortune.

FXWish

Jan 4, 2026 12:05am

no worries but make sure you also provide good life to their citizens and give them good life.

traderathome

Jan 4, 2026 9:48am

And, amidst all of this "good sounding news", he will also be setting up his own national line of gasoline stations.... he is "America's Most Successful Grifter".

Jan 4, 2026 10:57am

Wha happen?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/...=1767552615170

"WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested Sunday that the United States would not take a day-to-day role in governing Venezuela other than enforcing an existing “oil quarantine” on the country, a turnaround after President Donald Trump announced a day earlier that the U.S. would be running Venezuela following its ouster of leader Nicolás Maduro."

Jan 4, 2026 2:34pm

Quoting Ferna

Disliked

Just like you can inflate away the real value of debt, you can erode the value of the debt by depreciating it's currency. Real assets and territory is all that matter when someone doesn't pay up. There is no guarantee or collateral tied to it. Or the collateral becomes the collateral, which of course is insane.

Ignored

Yes but when you do that too many times you lose the trust, and eventually you lose the reserve currency status.

No one can say if the USD will lose it's status as the reserve currency or not for sure in the future, but with the current rate and benchmark, it is likely. And if that happens, demand for the stablecoins will shape differently.

Having assets and territory doesn't have anything to do with reserve currency status. Currency value doesn't reflect an economy's strength.

You can have a small economy yet a valuable currency (Kuwait for ex.)
You can have a great economy yet a cheap currency (China, India)

In fact, currency values and GDP growth are usually inversely correlated.

Jan 4, 2026 3:04pm

Quoting Ferna

Disliked

Yeah just try replace the whole electronic infrastructure and all the legal stuff against a country that can enforce anything. U.S got so many levers and there is no system or competition to replace any of those levers, not by China, not by anyone. There haven't been free markets for a long time. That's the first of your illusions. It's crony capitalism not market capitalism. So supply & demand are entirely controlled. Trust is not required when the option is to become toast.

Ignored

That's where you are wrong. You think countries shape the markets, so you think it's like between US vs China etc. However it's the consumers (people and corporates) that shape the markets. Mind you 70% of US GDP comes from consumer spending. Not military, not wars. This pretty much applies to all countries, so you can say roughly 70% of world's GDP is consumer spending.

You can't toast your own consumer base, it's their trust that determines what's a reserve currency and what's not.

It's actually funny when someone reduces the complex nature of finance and economics into "who has more muscle". Your way of thinking is called "mercantilism". It would work if we were in 1500s where governments had full monopoly on everything but in today's world, strength doesn't fully translate into consumer behaviour.

And i doubt it's a good idea to mansplain to an economics bachelor

Jan 4, 2026 3:38pm

Quoting Ferna

Disliked

noun 1. a man who is not and has never been married. i'll wingman you in some asylum or where you usually go for chicks. That way you will get some time off your hands.

Ignored

You got outsmarted and now started talking nonsense again. Sorry Jean Baptiste Colbert, your mercantilism doesn't work anymore.

Well, giving it a second thought, Colbert was a genius for his day, no disrespect to him. You are a dumbo for following the same thought after 400 years tho.

If you can get your incel arse some chicks that's good enough for you, don't worry about me

Btw you are so rude, i took your dumbass to school and that's how you thank me? Our convo is done Ferna, don't speak things you have no idea about next time.

Jan 4, 2026 3:52pm

Quoting Ferna

Disliked

Lol. So that's what it takes.. Not your effort gratified, not your presence, not your person. Like i said, i have to respect a person first. But yeah i mean you got me all FOMO now, so damn! i made a mistake I will think of this to the end of days... I asked for this...

Ignored

Yea insults and trash talk doesn't hurt me but when a productive, intellectual convo turns into a cacophony my heart just breaks... I'm disappointed...

Ooh i don't have your respect? darn guess i'll have to live with that

Jan 4, 2026 4:06pm

Quoting Ferna

Disliked

Productive? you are following me around like a puppy failing to realize i need no pets.

Ignored

I just can't stand ignorant people spewing misinfo. If you don't talk nonsense, you won't get it handed to you. Simple.

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Schultz

Jan 4, 2026 4:15am — Edited

I'm very much missing the bit about by what authority the US is claiming that it may step in and take control of any Venezuelan assets or resources.

It has taken its President. So what. I reckon that there have been some reckless conclusions drawn without any thought process or justification, as if certain things are self-evident.

The Venezuelan Supreme Court has directed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the role of acting President.

The NY Times (behind a paywall, I can only see the summary) says that Trump said that she would help the US run Venezuela. She quickly said the opposite.

edit - and now I see an article here on FF Cato Scholars: US Raid in Venezuela Raises Serious Constitutional and Foreign Policy Concerns While Ousting a Brutal Socialist Dictator | Forex Factory

where some commentators ask the same question/s and go on to suggest that some internal reform is possible, preferable and actually legal. Such blasphemy!!

"“We still have no answers to what ‘run Venezuela’ means, nor any clarity about who will be doing it, what it will cost, when it will end, or how it will be paid for. It is well past time for Congress not just to ask questions of the administration but to use the tools available to it to constrain an administration that has run well beyond its authority.”

shawkat2025

Jan 4, 2026 9:33am

Quoting NotAtrader

Disliked

{quote}

Ignored

why don't you save jobs, good food and shelter for American people first but make it honorable and stop being a stupid gangster COWBOY it's 2026 not 1945.

Schultz

Jan 4, 2026 11:37am

Quoting The Fool

Disliked

Wha happen? https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/...=1767552615170 "WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested Sunday that the United States would not take a day-to-day role in governing Venezuela other than enforcing an existing “oil quarantine” on the country, a...

Ignored

Outside of the US, Marco Rubio is not someone well known as compared to Trump. I understand that Mr Rubio is principal advisor in matters of foreign affairs.

In the meantime, Trump speaks for all of the USA.

Trader#3D57

Jan 4, 2026 9:32am

Quoting Tony112

Disliked

100$ oil

Ignored

i'm an American and i'm disgusted by this operation. Trump broke every rule in the US constitution and every international law regarding invading a sovereign nation. how can we tell Putin to stop his war with Ukraine to seize their resources when we are doing the exact same thing. We are and have been just as bad since the end of WW2.

Jan 4, 2026 7:16am

100$ oil

Jan 4, 2026 9:47am

Quoting Tony112

Disliked

100$ oil

Ignored

900k barrel per day have no impact on market

Foxikus

Jan 4, 2026 3:48am

Venezuela is unfortunate in that it is located in areas where oil belonging to the US is found.

shawkat2025

Jan 4, 2026 8:59am

Oh New Hitler, you will get in your A.. ! this time

Jr123

Jan 4, 2026 8:26am

Quoting Schultz

Disliked

I'm very much missing the bit about by what authority the US is claiming that it may step in and take control of any Venezuelan assets or resources. It has taken its President. So what. I reckon that there have been some reckless conclusions drawn without any thought process or justification, as if certain things are self-evident. The Venezuelan Supreme Court has directed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the role of acting President. The NY Times (behind a paywall, I can only see the summary) says that Trump said that she would help the...

Ignored

Sounds like law of the jungle or what's yours is mine.

Trader#2903

Jan 4, 2026 12:13am

fuck u fuck your trump

gabiroy

Jan 4, 2026 3:58am

China will suffer as a result, as it is the first buyer of Venezuelan oil.

Trader#E629

Jan 4, 2026 8:20am