(no subject)

[timelets]

Trump said the project to have US oil industry companies expand their operations in the country could be “up and running” in less than 18 months, in an interview Monday with NBC News — a timeframe starkly at odds with estimates from energy industry experts, while oil companies have been largely silent about their willingness to reinvest in Venezuela.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-05/trump-tells-nbc-us-may-reimburse-firms-for-venezuela-oil-efforts

If the US "runs" Venezuela, all oil contracts agreed to by the Venezuela government would be considered signed under duress by the US and prob Venezuela law, which means any future government could walk away from them and/or use further coercion to enforce them. Bribery and other forms of corruption would also be an option. In the long run, a future Venezuelan government or even private parties could sue the US for damages. The oil companies investing into the infrastructure would probably ask for US guarantees, both monetary and legal. As the result, we as taxpayers would be on the hook should things go wrong. In the typical Trumpian way of doing business, he privatizes personal gains and socializes losses.

upd:

Before making any commitments, oil companies want to ensure there’s a stable government in place, that the rule of law is upheld and that they have some degree of confidence Washington will to support their presence in Venezuela even after Trump is no longer in office, the person said.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-05/us-to-meet-with-oil-executives-this-week-on-venezuela-revival