After a potential special operation in Venezuela, the United States could gain control over up to 20% of the global oil market, directly competing with OPEC+ and influencing oil prices more strongly than ever before, according to analysts.

Donald Trump stated that U.S. oil companies are ready to invest billions of dollars in Venezuela to restore and modernize the country’s energy infrastructure.

Venezuela holds the largest proven oil reserves in the world — about 303 billion barrels, roughly 17% of global reserves.

Venezuela is not the only strategic point. Nigeria also has significant oil reserves. In October 2025, the White House said the U.S. could consider an anti-terrorism operation in Nigeria, officially framed as protecting Christian communities.

Iran is another major oil holder. Congressman Thomas Massie recently noted that oil is among Trump’s key strategic interests in Iran as well.

Bottom line: energy security, geopolitics, and oil supply are increasingly intertwined. Control over key oil-producing regions could reshape global energy markets, weaken OPEC+ influence, and turn oil into a central lever of U.S. foreign policy in the coming years.

#oil #USA #macro