The United States Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, arrived in Venezuela with the objective of strengthening energy cooperation between the two countries and participating in the signing of a new contract for the American company Chevron in the Orinoco belt, the world's largest crude oil reserve. At Maiquetía International Airport, Wright stated that Washington wants "a lot of" investment from the US in Venezuela to increase opportunities and prosperity for both Venezuelan and American people and energy consumers.
Wright's visit marks the second to the country this year, after establishing in February a long-term energy partnership with the Venezuelan Minister of Hydrocarbons, Paula Henao. The official was received by Henao herself and the US Chargé d'Affaires in Venezuela, John Barrett. Wright wrote on social media platform X that President Donald Trump's "energy diplomacy" is yielding results, driving new agreements and opening doors for American companies.
Diplomatic relations between Venezuela and the United States were severed in 2019 and reestablished in March, two months after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by American troops in Caracas. On Friday, Caracas and Washington announced a historic 25-year oil agreement, with a production target exceeding 1.5 million barrels per day. The White House also confirmed the granting of a 100-year concession to the private company North American Blue Energy Partners, owned by businessman Alejandro Betancourt, to explore part of Venezuelan oil.
Venezuela this year ceded state control over oil activity by substantially reforming the organic hydrocarbons law, opening doors to private and foreign capital. This measure represents a significant departure from the legacy of the late President Hugo Chávez. In July, Donald Trump publicly stated that Wright is "running Venezuela" and congratulated him on the "excellent work" he is doing.
