U.S. pushes to broaden access to Venezuela’s gold and other critical minerals

The Trump administration is actively seeking greater U.S. participation in Venezuela’s mineral industry, targeting gold and other critical resources beyond oil. Sources say officials are considering a draft executive order on critical minerals and have held discussions with companies to assess investment potential. Earlier this year, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control permitted limited transactions involving Venezuelan-origin gold and later expanded the scope to include other minerals, creating a legal framework for U.S. firms.

The initiative is part of a wider strategy to tie Venezuela’s natural wealth to U.S. national-security and economic goals following the January military operation that ousted Nicolás Maduro. While the precise policy may still evolve, the administration believes existing laws already support such investments. Critics in Venezuela warn the approach could increase foreign control over the country’s resources.