Interior Secretary Doug Burgum says the new U.S.-Venezuela relationship is already delivering real benefits for American energy and national security, with oil, gold and critical minerals moving toward U.S. markets and private American companies lining up to invest. He framed the shift as a win for American energy dominance and for the people of Venezuela, crediting policy changes and business interest for rapid early results.
Burgum told reporters that since the capture of Nicolás Maduro, U.S. access to Venezuelan resources has opened quickly and practically. Markets reacted, and energy professionals are looking at Venezuela not as a risk but as a source of supply that can strengthen Western energy security. On the ground, he said, executives and miners are already planning moves to rebuild production and supply chains.
When asked on air about whether Venezuela could replace lost supplies from other regions, the exchange with Peter Doocy was direct: “Because Venezuela is part of this equation now and you were just there … all this oil, you said three percent from the Middle East winds up getting cut off,” “Is there enough in Venezuela to keep everything in the U.S. gassed up?” That question set the tone for Burgum’s practical, upbeat reply about capacity and American industry.
He answered plainly: “Yes, absolutely. I mean, between the U.S. and our U.S. industry, which is the most innovative and most effective in the world, I mean we’re the number one oil producer in the world, we’re the number one LNG [liquified natural gas] producer,” and he tied that position to American policy. Burgum framed recent moves as the fruit of an American-first energy stance that has restored leverage and supply flexibility.
Beyond oil, Burgum emphasized critical minerals and gold arriving in the U.S. as part of early trade and licensing moves. “Well, it started on Friday. In addition to the oil and gas flowing, we signed the first licenses for critical minerals to start flowing and precious minerals on Friday. There was $100 million of gold that came from Venezuela to the United States. That’s for both industrial purposes as well as other commercial uses.” That first shipment, he said, proves private investment and licensing can move quickly when political conditions change.
He listed the kinds of materials making Venezuela strategically important: “Venezuela has got $500 billion of resources of gold, but they’ve also got other critical minerals. Bauxite for aluminum, which we need for defense and for construction. … They’ve got coal resources that can be used to help generate power to begin to help us win the AI [artificial intelligence] arms race with China,” and he underscored how mining law changes are unlocking opportunities. Burgum pointed to new legislation in Caracas that has invited foreign capital and promises faster development in both hydrocarbons and mining.
Secretary of Energy Chris Wright’s recent comments echoed that private-sector appetite, with American companies reportedly seeking to help rebuild Venezuelan output without asking for government bailouts. That private interest is central to the Republican argument here: markets and firms, backed by clear policy, will rebuild supply and strengthen U.S. energy security without heavy-handed spending. Executives who had previously worked in Venezuela, Burgum said, are eager to return.
On the political and human side, Burgum stressed the boost to Venezuelan citizens, describing local enthusiasm for renewed economic activity and praising President Trump’s role in opening the country’s economy. “They see great opportunity and, I tell you, the people of Venezuela, they are going to be putting up a statue of President Trump as a great liberator because he has opened up their economy again after more than two decades. The enthusiasm is high on the ground level in Venezuela for what their future can be.” That’s a stark, pro-recovery message aimed at both foreign policy and domestic audiences.
The scale of the prize is large: independent estimates have put Venezuela’s proven oil reserves extremely high, and its mix of hydrocarbons plus critical minerals makes it a strategic target for rebuilding supply chains. Burgum argued that American technical skill, capital and regulatory clarity mean the U.S. can both secure supplies and set high standards for environmental and safety performance as development proceeds.
With oil prices and geopolitical pressure in flux, the White House and energy leaders are positioning the U.S. to move from crisis response to long-term advantage. Burgum’s reporting from Caracas and the quick licensing and shipments are the opening moves in what he described as a broader plan to rebuild reliable, Western-controlled supply for energy and critical minerals while strengthening alliances and private investment. The early signs, according to Republican leadership around energy policy, are promising for American producers and national security alike.
