Washington reclaims Latin America through energy as Israel returns to Caracas

Venezuela’s oil is becoming more than an energy asset; it is emerging as an instrument in a wider contest for influence across Latin America. The agreement announced by US President Donald Trump on 28th August brings more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan reserves into a partnership that Trump says gives the American side “majority control,” while Venezuela’s interim government, led by Delcy Rodríguez, insists the 25-year deal preserves national sovereignty. That tension between American control and Venezuelan sovereignty lies at the heart of a broader geopolitical struggle over who will shape the country’s economic and strategic future. The deal…