The Trump administration has demanded that Venezuela remove China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba from the country and instead partner exclusively with the United States on oil production, according to an ABC News report. The demand represents a sharp escalation in Washington’s approach toward Caracas and underscores the strategic importance of Venezuela’s vast energy resources in U.S. foreign policy calculations.
According to the report, U.S. officials have communicated to Venezuelan counterparts that any meaningful normalization of relations would require Caracas to sever its close political, economic, and security ties with the four countries. In return, the United States would seek an exclusive partnership focused on oil exploration, production, and development, an area where Venezuela holds some of the largest proven reserves in the world.
The demand reflects long-standing concerns in Washington about the presence and influence of U.S. adversaries in Venezuela. China and Russia have provided billions of dollars in loans and investments to Caracas over the past two decades, much of it tied directly to oil. Iran has supplied fuel, technical assistance, and refinery support, while Cuba has maintained deep intelligence, military, and advisory ties with the Venezuelan government.
U.S. officials cited in the ABC News report view these relationships as a direct threat to American national security and regional stability. The administration has repeatedly argued that Venezuela has become a platform for geopolitical rivals to project influence in the Western Hemisphere, something U.S. leaders have said is unacceptable given the country’s proximity to the United States.
The push for an exclusive oil partnership would mark a significant shift in Venezuela’s energy sector, which has been increasingly reliant on non-Western allies due to years of U.S. sanctions. Those sanctions were imposed in response to allegations of democratic backsliding, corruption, and human rights abuses by the Venezuelan government. They have severely restricted Venezuela’s ability to sell oil on global markets and access Western financing and technology.
Under the proposed arrangement described by ABC News, Venezuela would reorient its oil industry toward U.S. companies and markets, potentially gaining access to investment, equipment, and expertise that could help revive its struggling production capacity. Venezuela’s oil output has fallen dramatically over the past decade due to mismanagement, underinvestment, and the impact of sanctions.
However, analysts say the demand places Venezuela in an extremely difficult position. Expelling China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba would mean cutting off key economic lifelines and security partnerships that have helped sustain the current government. Those countries have provided political backing and material support at times when Venezuela has been largely isolated from Western governments.
There has been no public confirmation from Venezuelan officials that they would consider such a sweeping shift in alliances. Historically, Caracas has rejected U.S. pressure as an infringement on its sovereignty and has portrayed its partnerships with non-Western countries as a necessary counterbalance to American influence.
The ABC News report notes that the Trump administration’s approach aligns with its broader foreign policy strategy of applying maximum pressure on adversaries while seeking to reassert U.S. dominance in strategic sectors such as energy. Officials believe that leveraging access to the U.S. market and investment could force Venezuela to make concessions it has previously resisted.
Critics of the strategy argue that demanding exclusive partnerships could further polarize the situation and push Venezuela closer to its existing allies. They also warn that attempting to dictate Venezuela’s foreign relationships may undermine diplomatic efforts and complicate any potential negotiated resolution to the country’s political and economic crisis.
The demand comes amid ongoing instability in Venezuela, where economic collapse, inflation, and shortages have driven millions to flee the country. Oil remains central to any recovery, accounting for the majority of Venezuela’s export revenues and government income.
As of now, it remains unclear how Venezuela will respond to the reported U.S. ultimatum or whether any formal negotiations are underway. The situation highlights the high-stakes geopolitical struggle over influence, energy, and alliances in Latin America, with Venezuela’s oil wealth once again at the center of international power politics.
