INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
President Donald Trump, speaking to journalists on February 18, 2025, suggests the U.S
energy markets.Venezuela boasts 300 billion barrels in reserves, yet pumps just 700,000 barrels daily, down from 3 million in the 1990s
Sanctions since 2017 cripple PDVSA, the state oil firm, slashing output and cash flow.Chevron, granted a license in 2022, lifts 100,000
Meanwhile, PDVSA scrambles for light crude to mix with its heavy Orinoco Belt oil, hit by a stalled Iran swap deal from 2024.Trump Reviews
oil revenue, 90% of its foreign cash
Analysts see Trump weighing a hardline stance against Maduro, who clings to power amid poverty and chaos.Some on X note talks with
Venezuelan officials, though details stay murky
If Chevron exits, China or India might buy discounted crude, but profits would shrink.The U.S
For Caracas, already battered, this could deepen an economic abyss.This brewing decision ties energy, geopolitics, and business in a knot
Observers wait as the White House balances punishing a foe with keeping oil flowing
