President Donald Trump has signaled that Venezuelan crude oil could play a role in restocking the United States’ Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), the emergency stockpile the federal government maintains to cushion the country against sudden supply disruptions.
The announcement, reported by the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, comes amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Caracas over energy policy and sanctions. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was significantly drawn down in recent years to help stabilize fuel prices, and refilling it has become a priority for US energy officials.
Venezuela holds some of the largest proven oil reserves in the world, though years of sanctions, underinvestment, and economic turmoil have hampered the country’s production capacity. Any move to incorporate Venezuelan oil into US reserves would mark a notable shift in how Washington approaches its complicated relationship with the South American nation’s government.
Details on the specific mechanics of the plan—including volumes, timelines, and whether it would require easing existing sanctions—were not immediately clear from the initial report.
For the full story and additional context, read the original report at La Jornada.
Image: Dietmar Rabich.