In a move that redefines U.S.-Venezuelan energy relations, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright arrived in Caracas on Wednesday to head an agenda focused on the revival of Venezuela’s oil sector.
Wright’s visit marks the first high-level energy-focused trip by Washington in nearly 30 years. The official arrives just one day after the U.S. government issued a general license allowing foreign companies to explore and produce oil and gas in Venezuela, formally opening a new stage of energy cooperation.
A three-day trip with strategic stops
During his stay until Friday, Wright will meet with Delcy Rodriguez, Vice President and Minister of Petroleum, as well as hold meetings with executives of Chevron and Repsol, two of the foreign companies with the largest operating presence in Venezuela.
One of the visits will be to Petropiar, the largest joint oil project between Chevron and PDVSA, located in the Orinoco Belt, the region with the largest heavy crude reserves in the country.
Geopolitical implications
Beyond oil, Chris Wright’s visit responds to a geopolitical logic. According to analyst Thomas O’Donnell, the US is outlining a doctrine of energy dominance, with the aim of using its alliance with countries such as Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Guyana to reconfigure global energy markets in case of future geopolitical need.
What’s next
Chris Wright’s visit could be the first step towards a structural energy reconnection between Venezuela and the United States, provided that political conditions allow it and structural reforms are consolidated. For now, foreign companies are beginning to deploy their plans, and Washington is betting on transforming the Orinoco Belt into a strategic asset to strengthen its global influence.
Source: Reuters