Trump Supports Venezuela Remaining in OPEC

• Trump's administration seeks to control Venezuela's oil resources indefinitely to rebuild the industry, despite Venezuela being a founding OPEC member with some of the world's largest crude reserves
• U.S. control over Venezuelan oil policy could clash with OPEC quota systems if Trump ramps up production while the cartel implements cuts to support prices, particularly given Saudi Arabia's leadership role
• White House aides confirm Venezuela's OPEC membership has not been discussed internally but could become a flashpoint given conflicting production strategies between U.S. interests and the cartel's supply management goals

Summary

President Donald Trump stated on January 14, 2026, that Venezuela should remain in OPEC, though he acknowledged uncertainty about whether this benefits the United States. The comments come after the U.S. recently ousted Venezuela's president and asserted control over the country's oil resources.

Key Developments:

• Trump's administration plans to control Venezuela's oil supply "indefinitely" to rebuild the country's oil industry
• Venezuela, an OPEC founding member, possesses some of the world's largest crude reserves but has experienced output collapse due to economic turmoil and sanctions
• The U.S. completed its first Venezuelan oil sales valued at $500 million, according to related reporting
• Trump declined to address whether U.S.-controlled Venezuela would need to comply with OPEC production quotas, calling the question "premature"

Market Implications:

A potential conflict looms between U.S. control of Venezuelan oil and OPEC's supply management strategy. If Trump seeks to maximize Venezuelan production while OPEC implements cuts to support prices, this could create significant tension within the cartel. White House sources indicate Venezuela's OPEC membership hasn't been formally discussed but could become a "flashpoint."

Context:

OPEC members, led de facto by Saudi Arabia, coordinate production cuts and increases to stabilize oil markets. Several members, including Iraq, Nigeria, and Angola, have historically chafed against quota restrictions that limit their ability to exploit reserves. U.S.-driven expansion of Venezuelan output could similarly clash with OPEC's collective production limits, potentially disrupting the cartel's price stabilization efforts and global oil market dynamics.