"Inside Venezuela's rich oil and gold reserves: See maps and charts", 05 January 2026

...In a news conference shortly after the military operation, Trump stated that the detention of Maduro would enable oil giants that had previously been denied access to Venezuela's enormous, state-owned oil reserves.

Venezuela possesses the world's largest oil reserves...

U.S. oil companies' shares jumped on Monday, Jan. 5, fueled by the prospect of access to Venezuela's vast oil reserves after Trump said the U.S. would take control of the South American nation following the arrest of its president...

The operational status of the gold mines tied to Maduro's regime remains unclear...

Alongside oil, a large portion of the nation's mineral production — including nickel, bauxite, iron ore and gold — has declined over the past decade...

Prior to the imposition of sanctions, the U.S. was the primary consumer of Venezuelan oil. But, over the past 10 years, China has emerged as the primary importer.

Global energy markets and regional stability may be severely impacted by the results of the U.S. operation and fall of Venezuela's government...