Venezuela Oil Sector Control and Potential Annexation

under u.s. operational control, potential annexation under consideration

Following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in January 2026, the United States took operational control of Venezuela's oil sector. Exports have rebounded to over one million barrels per day as of April 2026. The project involves potential massive investments by American oil companies like Exxon and Conoco to exploit Venezuela's heavy oil reserves in the Orinoco Belt. There is also consideration of making Venezuela the 51st U.S. state to secure energy supply and integrate the country more deeply with the U.S.