• Trump urges top US oil executives to invest $100 billion in Venezuelan oil.
• Meeting held after US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
• Executives, including ExxonMobil's CEO, express concerns over Venezuela's investment climate.

In a recent meeting with top oil executives at the White House, President Donald Trump urged major companies to invest in Venezuela's oil sector, claiming that his administration would control access to the nation's vast resources. He asserts that foreign firms can now operate with "total security," mentioning that the intention is to rebuild the country's oil infrastructure and significantly boost production. This meeting occurred shortly after US forces captured President Nicolás Maduro, aiming to leverage Venezuela's oil wealth to lower domestic fuel prices, according to Channel News Asia and Le Monde.

Trump proposed that US firms should invest heavily — at least $100 billion — to revitalize Venezuela's oil production capabilities. However, executives from major firms expressed significant skepticism about Venezuela's viability as an investment destination. ExxonMobil's CEO noted that without sweeping reforms, the country remains "uninvestable." This sentiment highlights the uncertainty surrounding investment in the politically unstable nation, which has a history of nationalization and state seizures, according to India Times and Los Angeles Times.

Trump has taken further steps to secure US-held Venezuelan oil revenues through an executive order that prevents these funds from being subjected to seizure in legal claims, deeming it crucial for US foreign policy. The order declared a national emergency and aims to safeguard dollar revenues tied to oil sales held in US Treasury accounts. This action aligns with Trump's strategy of ensuring that any revenue benefits US objectives while aiming for economic restoration in Venezuela, as outlined by Reuters and South China Morning Post.

Despite the ambitious plans outlined by Trump, analysts caution that simply possessing vast reserves does not translate into immediate or profitable production, given vulnerabilities such as outdated infrastructure and investor unease. This skepticism complicates Trump's assertion of a full-scale return to Venezuelan oil investment by major US companies, reinforcing the challenges he faces in convincing them to act under existing conditions, according to Le Monde and India Times.