The Trump administration is hoping Venezuela’s wealth of minerals — along with its oil — will serve as a source of revenue for the country, a top State Department official said Wednesday.
Caleb Orr, assistant secretary of State for economic, energy and business affairs, highlighted the country’s mineral sector during a briefing, saying it presents a “great opportunity.”
“We want Venezuelan critical minerals to generate revenue for the benefit of the Venezuelan people,” said Orr. “Venezuela holds tremendous economic potential, and ensuring that American and other aligned companies have fair access to the Venezuelan market will help the economy recover from a decade of neglect.”
Top Trump officials like Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called for reviving the country’s beleaguered mining sector a day after the dramatic capture of President Nicolás Maduro. The industry there has been plagued by political instability, illegal operations and environmental destruction.
