Venezuela’s president vows mining reform amid visit from US cabinet member
Al Jazeera • • nation
Key Points:
- United States Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum met with Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez in Caracas to advance US efforts to increase oil and mineral production in Venezuela, with Rodriguez announcing plans to propose mining law reforms to the Venezuelan legislature.
- Burgum expressed optimism about strengthening economic ties between the US and Venezuela, accompanied by representatives from nearly a dozen companies eager to invest in Venezuelan oil and minerals and reduce bureaucratic barriers.
- The US push follows a controversial January 3 military operation targeting former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, which was widely condemned as a violation of international law, yet the Trump administration continues to seek greater private sector access to Venezuela’s natural resources.
- Critics argue that the US efforts may infringe on Venezuela’s sovereignty and
