Room for China in Venezuela Oil, But US Must Stay in Charge: Energy Secretary

China has been a long-time trade partner of Venezuela and is expected to maintain a presence there after the downfall of Maduro, Chris Wright says.
Room for China in Venezuela Oil, But US Must Stay in Charge: Energy Secretary
Energy Secretary Chris Wright speaks during an event with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on Oct. 6, 2025. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Bill Pan
Bill Pan
Reporter
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There could be room for both the United States ‍and China to do business in Venezuela as long as Washington, not Beijing, maintains the dominant influence over the Latin ⁠American country, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said.

In a Jan. 8 interview on Fox Business, Wright was asked what the United States should do about long-term contracts between Nicolás Maduro’s regime and China now that the Venezuelan leader has been arrested and brought to New York to stand trial on narco-terrorism charges.