Raiding Venezuela: The U.S. Shift from ‘Monroe Doctrine’ to ‘Tangro Doctrine

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the stunning attack on Venezuela and the operation to arrest leader Nicolás Maduro were primarily driven by the country’s vast oil reserves, rather than just drug trafficking and immigration issues. Trump claimed that American oil companies would rebuild Venezuela’s crude oil industry, economically compensating the U.S. and benefiting the Venezuelan people.On Saturday, during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump stated, “We are going to let big U.S. oil companies enter Venezuela, invest billions of dollars, repair the severely damaged oil infrastructure, and start generating revenue.” He added, “We will make a difference in Venezuela’s oil sector.” Trump said, “We are going to extract huge wealth from underground.”While smaller-scale profits might materialize faster, energy analysts emphasize that fully rebuilding Venezuela’s oil industry and significantly boosting exports will take years, possibly close to a decade. This would entrench the U.S. in Venezuela’s affairs for the long term. Trump did not provide many details, but he mentioned that Venezuela’s Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, currently holds power temporarily, but “she has no choice” and must follow orders from the White House until free elections or a power transition can take place. “We are not afraid to send ground troops into combat,” Trump said.Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, yet its oil production accounts for less than 1% of the global total. From an oil extraction perspective, it is one of the largest “underperformers” on Earth.

This once-major oil producer, which used to pump nearly 4 million barrels per day, now sees production plummet from 3.2 million barrels daily in 2000 to about 960,000 barrels under Maduro’s rule and his predecessor Hugo Chávez. This decline is attributed to factors such as insufficient investment and escalating U.S. sanctions.”We’re going to get oil flowing the way it’s supposed to,” Trump said. “For Venezuela’s current reserves, the flow is actually far too little.”Trump has repeatedly stated that he wants to reclaim the oil, assets, and drilling platforms that were seized from U.S. oil companies during the second term of George W. Bush’s presidency. At the press conference, he described it as “the largest theft of assets in U.S. history.” Trump remarked, “We were like babies, with the massive oil infrastructure taken away from us, yet we didn’t do anything about it.”Chain ReactionTrump stated that the U.S. has now “surpassed” the Monroe Doctrine, and noted that some are now calling it the “Tangro Doctrine.” “America’s dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.”Since last fall, the U.S. has bombed several Venezuelan ships, citing anti-drug trafficking efforts and national security concerns, though the legal grounds for these actions remain dubious. According to the U.S. military, more than 100 people have died as a result. In December, the U.S. seized sanctioned oil tankers and imposed partial oil embargoes around Venezuela, escalating the conflict.”The full oil embargo on Venezuela remains in effect. The U.S. fleet is still on high alert,” Trump stated.Trump added that the U.S. would allow Venezuelan oil to be legally sold to China and other countries.

While over 80% of Venezuela’s oil exports go to China, nearly 15% of its oil is sold to the U.S. through special operating licenses granted to Chevron. A spokesperson for Chevron said on Saturday, “Chevron always prioritizes the safety and well-being of its employees and the integrity of its assets. We will continue to fully comply with all relevant laws and regulations.” The spokesperson declined further comment.At a meeting in Washington, D.C. last November, Chevron’s CEO Mike Wirth remarked that while the geopolitical environment was difficult, Venezuela’s potential was worth the effort. “Places like Venezuela are volatile and challenging, but the country has rich geological resources and wealth. We’re focused on the long term, committed to serving the Venezuelan people, and hoping to participate in rebuilding Venezuela’s economy when the situation improves.”Many Democratic members of Congress strongly criticized Trump’s illegal assault on Venezuela, accusing the Trump administration of lying about its policies toward the country. Massachusetts Democratic Representative Seth Moulton stated that Trump’s actions were illegal, not in the U.S. interest, and seemed to lack any follow-up plan. He told CNN that the White House lied to Congress about regime change, sending ground troops, and Venezuela’s drug trafficking activities to the U.S.”Maybe all of this is about oil, he’s trying to steal their oil,” Moulton said, though he wasn’t sure, as Trump lies about everything.Trump responded, “We want to be with good neighbors. We want a stable environment. We want abundant energy. Venezuela has rich energy reserves. Protecting Venezuela is crucial for us. Americans need it, and the world needs it.”