After the successful military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would now assume full control over Venezuela’s state authority and its vast oil resources.
The Key Lies in the Nature of Crude Oil in Both Countries
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the United States may have the world’s largest oil reserves, but most of its crude is light or sweet crude. This type of oil is excellent
for producing gasoline but far less suitable for heavy industrial use.
Venezuela, on the other hand, possesses heavy, dense crude oil. Although it requires more complex extraction and refining, it can produce:
High‑quality diesel
Asphalt
Industrial‑grade fuels
Fuel suitable for heavy machinery
A wide range of high‑value petroleum products
For industrialized nations, this type of oil is extremely valuable.
Why Washington Wants Control
Heavy crude is essential for sectors such as manufacturing, construction, shipping, and large‑scale machinery areas where light crude is insufficient. By controlling Venezuela’s reserves, the U.S. gains access to a strategic resource that complements its own oil profile and strengthens its industrial and geopolitical leverage.
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