With U.S. sanctions easing and the Trump administration signaling strong support for American operator re-engagement, the question facing U.S. energy companies is no longer whether Venezuela opens, but whether the terms, timeline, and risk profile justify a commitment of capital at scale. Gulf Coast refiners are ramping up Venezuelan heavy crude intake, and independent operators are assessing what re-entry or new entry could look like.
This Executive Dialogue offers a candid conversation on how American energy companies are evaluating Venezuela, the operational realities on the ground, the commercial logic driving near-term decisions, and what conditions must be in place before major new capital commitments follow.