Maduro Appeals to OPEC to Protect Venezuela’s Oil

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to assist his country in countering “growing and illegal threats” from the United States and its president, Donald Trump.

In a letter sent to fellow OPEC members on Sunday, Maduro accused the US of attempting to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves, which are the largest proven reserves in the world. The president urged OPEC to take action to protect Venezuela’s energy resources and prevent destabilization of the global oil market.

“I hope to count on your best efforts to help stop this aggression, which is growing stronger and seriously threatens the balance of the international energy market, both for producing and consuming countries,” Maduro wrote, as published by state broadcaster TeleSUR.

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Allegations of US Aggression

Maduro also formally denounced the threat of lethal military force against Venezuela’s territory, institutions, and people, addressing both OPEC and the broader OPEC+ group. The warning comes amid a significant US military buildup in the Caribbean, including deployment of the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, other warships, F-35 fighter jets, and thousands of troops.

The US government has maintained that its military presence is aimed at combating drug trafficking, though critics note that Venezuela is not a major source of drugs entering the US. At least 83 people have died in US strikes on vessels alleged to be carrying drugs, raising concerns from human rights advocates about extrajudicial killings and violations of international law.

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Venezuela’s Oil Situation

Despite holding the world’s largest proven oil reserves—estimated at 303 billion barrels as of 2023—Venezuela exported only $4.05 billion worth of crude oil in 2023, significantly below other major oil producers. This is partly due to longstanding US sanctions imposed during Trump’s previous administration.

Venezuela, along with Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, is a founding member of OPEC, established in 1960 to coordinate oil production and influence global prices. Maduro’s appeal emphasizes the need for OPEC solidarity to protect member countries from external threats to energy security.

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Recent US Actions and Statements

Maduro’s letter followed statements by Donald Trump on Truth Social, in which he declared Venezuela’s airspace closed, warning airlines, pilots, and even “drug dealers and human traffickers” to avoid the region. Caracas labeled the announcement a “colonialist threat.”

The Trump administration has also launched plans to increase oil production in the US, reviving policies from his 2023 re-election campaign slogan, “drill, baby, drill,” including new offshore drilling projects off California and Florida.

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Tensions in the Caribbean and Energy Markets

The escalation in US-Venezuelan tensions highlights a broader struggle over energy resources in the Caribbean region. While the US focuses on expanding oil production, many Caribbean nations are advocating for a transition away from fossil fuels due to climate change, which has intensified tropical storms and other natural disasters in recent years.

Venezuela’s call to OPEC reflects concerns about both national sovereignty and global energy stability, as the Latin American nation seeks to counter perceived US interference and maintain control over its critical oil assets.