The United States has told Venezuela that it must sever cooperation with Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba before it can expand oil production, according to a report by ABC7 News citing sources familiar with the discussions. The demand underscores Washington’s continued use of energy policy as a geopolitical tool and places fresh pressure on Caracas at a moment when global oil markets remain tight and politically sensitive.
According to the report, the Trump administration conveyed its conditions directly to interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, making clear that compliance with the White House’s demands was a prerequisite for any increase in Venezuelan oil output. “The first demand on the list is renunciation of cooperation with China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba,” the report said.
The message reflects a broader US strategy aimed at reshaping Venezuela’s foreign alignments, particularly its long-standing partnerships with non-Western powers that have provided diplomatic, financial, and technical support to Caracas amid years of US and EU sanctions and economic isolation.
Venezuela possesses the world’s largest proven oil reserves, much of them in the form of heavy crude oil that requires specialized technology and investment to extract and refine. Over the past decade, cooperation with Russia, China, and Iran has played a significant role in sustaining the country’s oil sector, especially as US and EU sanctions limited access to Western capital and expertise.
The ABC News report adds that Washington’s demands go beyond diplomatic realignment. According to another condition outlined in the report, Venezuela must work exclusively with the US in oil production and give preference to Washington when selling heavy crude oil. Such a requirement would represent a dramatic shift in Caracas’s energy policy and commercial relationships.
US officials have argued that tighter alignment with Washington could help stabilize Venezuela’s oil sector and integrate it more closely into Western markets. Critics, however, say the demands amount to economic coercion, effectively forcing a sovereign state to abandon its strategic partners in exchange for limited economic relief.
The timing of the reported demands is significant. Global oil markets have been grappling with supply disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and fluctuating demand, making Venezuelan production a point of interest for both producers and consumers. Any increase in output could influence prices, particularly for heavy crude grades used by certain US refineries.
For Venezuela, the conditions outlined by Washington pose a complex dilemma. Cooperation with China has brought billions of dollars in loans and infrastructure investment, while Russia has provided technical assistance and political backing in international forums. Iran, meanwhile, has helped Venezuela maintain refinery operations and fuel supplies during periods of acute shortage, and Cuba has been a long-standing political ally.
Renouncing these partnerships would not only alter Venezuela’s foreign policy orientation but could also disrupt existing projects and agreements that underpin its oil sector. Analysts note that rebuilding exclusive partnerships with US companies would take time and would likely come with stringent contractual and regulatory requirements.
The report also highlights the broader geopolitical implications of the US position. By insisting on an exclusive partnership, Washington appears to be seeking to limit the influence of rival powers in the Western Hemisphere, particularly China and Russia, which have expanded their presence in Latin America over the past two decades.
From the US perspective, energy cooperation has long been intertwined with strategic considerations. Venezuelan oil once accounted for a substantial share of US imports, and restoring that flow under conditions favorable to Washington could be seen as both an economic and political win.
At the same time, the demand that Caracas prioritize the US in heavy crude sales raises questions about market dynamics and competition. Heavy crude is not easily interchangeable, and preferential treatment for one buyer could affect pricing and availability for others.
There has been no immediate public response from the Venezuelan government to the ABC News report. In past statements, Venezuelan officials have rejected what they describe as external interference in the country’s internal affairs and have defended partnerships with Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba as sovereign decisions.
The reported discussions come against the backdrop of ongoing debates in Washington over how to approach Venezuela. Some policymakers favor engagement and limited sanctions relief to encourage political and economic reforms, while others argue for maintaining pressure until Caracas meets a broader set of conditions.
Energy experts note that even if Venezuela were willing to meet US demands, practical challenges remain. Years of underinvestment, infrastructure decay, and skilled labor shortages have constrained production capacity, making rapid increases in output difficult regardless of political agreements.
The insistence on exclusive cooperation also raises legal and commercial questions. Existing contracts with non-US partners would need to be renegotiated or terminated, potentially exposing Venezuela to arbitration claims and financial penalties.
International observers say the situation illustrates how energy resources continue to be leveraged in global power politics. Control over production, partnerships, and supply routes has become a central element of competition between major powers, with countries like Venezuela caught in the middle.
As the report notes, the White House has framed its demands as necessary steps before Venezuela can “produce more oil.” Whether Caracas is willing or able to comply remains uncertain, and the outcome could have lasting implications for regional politics and global energy markets.
