BuzzNews

Trump Wants Private Military In Venezuela

Stephanie Gauthier

2026-01-19 08:38:32

Credit: Getty Images

As Venezuelan oil sales begin, the Trump administration is shifting toward the use of private military contractors to protect oil and energy infrastructure, according to CNN, avoiding a prolonged deployment of U.S. troops. The move follows the first official U.S. sale of Venezuelan oil since the capture of Nicolás Maduro and the seizure of tankers, valued at about $500 million. Despite urging U.S. companies to invest $100 billion to rebuild infrastructure, skepticism remains, with Exxon calling Venezuela «uninvestable». Trump has nonetheless touted «tremendous progress» with interim President Delcy Rodríguez, while Nobel laureate María Corina Machado’s visit to Washington highlights unresolved political tensions.

In Venezuela

The Trump administration continues to push its plan to take complete control over Venezuela’s oil operations even after a White House meeting with major U.S. oil executives in which Trump urged companies to invest $100 billion to rebuild the country’s deteriorated infrastructure — a pitch met with skepticism, with Exxon’s CEO calling Venezuela “uninvestable” under current conditions.

Venezuela’s oil operations

As the U.S. has already begun selling Venezuelan oil, Washington is seeking ways to secure the sector, and the Department of Defense issued a Request for Information to private contractors about their ability to support potential U.S. military operations in Venezuela — a move that could cost billions of taxpayer dollars if it leads to long-term engagements.

On Truth Social

Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he had a «very good call» with Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez, saying the United States and Venezuela were making «tremendous progress» on issues including oil, minerals, trade and national security, and predicting a «spectacular» partnership that would help Venezuela become «great and prosperous again.» Meanwhile, 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado is visiting Washington, where she is expected to meet congressional leaders and push for democratic transition policies in Venezuela, adding pressure on Trump to support a broader political opening beyond economic cooperation.