Explained: How Venezuela’s natural resources turn it into a geopolitical prize for US

The recent US operation in Venezuela has pushed the country from a long-running regional crisis into the centre of global strategic calculations. Beyond politics and personalities, the core driver is Venezuela’s vast concentration of energy, minerals, metals, and freshwater — resources that can reshape global supply chains and power balances if brought under US influence. 

This is why Venezuela is increasingly viewed not just as a foreign policy challenge, but as a geopolitical prize. 

1. Oil: Energy scale leverage 

Venezuela holds the largest proven crude oil reserves in the world — more than 300 billion barrels, surpassing Saudi Arabia. 

Why it matters to the US: 

• Acts as a pressure valve against OPEC supply manipulation 
• Enables price stabilisation — or disruption — during global crises 
• Offers leverage over global inflation via energy markets 
• Strengthens US control over Western Hemisphere energy flows 

With US capital, technology, and logistics, Venezuelan oil could be rapidly integrated into global supply systems on Washington’s terms. 

2. Natural Gas: Strategic hedge against global volatility 

Venezuela’s 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas give it latent power in a world marked by energy shocks. 

Strategic value post-operation: 

• Reduces exposure to EU-Russia gas volatility 
• Creates future LNG export leverage if infrastructure scales 
• Strengthens US bargaining power in transatlantic energy diplomacy 

Gas is not just fuel — it is geopolitical insurance. 

3. Iron Ore & Coal: Industrial & military backbone 

Venezuela has billions of tonnes of iron ore and hundreds of millions of tonnes of coal, essential for industrial production. 

Why Washington cares: 

• Steel supply underpins military manufacturing 
• Critical for rail, ports, and logistics infrastructure 
• Becomes strategic stock in war-preparation cycles 

In geopolitical competition, heavy industry resources function like strategic reserves. 

4. Gold: Strategic collateral in a shifting financial order 

With more than 8,000 tonnes of gold resources, Venezuela holds one of the largest gold endowments in the world. 

Post-operation significance: 

• Provides sovereign collateral amid rising debt stress 
• Gains importance as trust in fiat currencies weakens 
• Positions the US favorably in a potential commodity-backed financial reset 

Gold is no longer just wealth — it is credibility. 

5. Freshwater: Overlooked strategic asset 

Venezuela controls about 2% of the world’s renewable freshwater, a critical resource in a climate-constrained future. 

Why it matters geopolitically: 

• Anchors long-term food and agricultural security 
• Enables population resilience and internal stability 
• Enhances soft power through agricultural exports 

Water is emerging as a strategic resource on par with oil. 

6. Strategic minerals: Countering China’s supply chain dominance 

Venezuela has largely untapped deposits of nickel, copper, and phosphates—key inputs for modern technology. 

US strategic upside: 

• Supports battery, EV, and semiconductor supply chains 
• Reduces dependence on China-controlled mineral flows 
• Secures inputs for defense and advanced manufacturing 

This is the long-game advantage embedded in Venezuela’s soil. 

After the US operation, Venezuela is no longer just a regional flashpoint — it is a strategic node in the global contest over energy, supply chains, and economic power.