Trump’s Venezuela Oil Gambit | US News

The Trump administration’s push to revive Venezuela’s oil sector is sparking controversy, centered on businessman Alejandro Betancourt—accused of money laundering and tax evasion but denying wrongdoing. Acting as a key U.S. intermediary, he allegedly controls access to lucrative oil contracts, favoring inexperienced American firms over established players, raising alarms about transparency and fairness. Critics warn this strategy replaces one corrupt system with another, especially as former advisor Mauricio Claver-Carone, now out of official government roles, reportedly shaped the plan. While the goal is to restore production and lure investment, the reliance on unproven figures and shaky legal foundations casts doubt on whether real reform—or just more chaos—is underway. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8f8f080edb39d865