President Donald Trump said ExxonMobil is among the major U.S. oil companies preparing to enter Venezuela, signaling a dramatic potential reversal nearly two decades after Exxon left the country following the nationalization of its assets. The development comes as Washington accelerates efforts to attract international investment into Venezuela’s oil industry and increase crude supplies to U.S. markets.

Exxon Could Return to Venezuela After Nearly Two Decades

Trump said Exxon, Chevron and other major oil companies are preparing to pursue opportunities in Venezuela, where companies are competing for access to oil projects. Exxon has not publicly confirmed a new investment commitment, meaning the company’s eventual role remains subject to further negotiations and commercial assessments.

A return would mark a significant change from Exxon’s previous position. The company exited Venezuela after its assets were nationalized under former President Hugo Chávez. Exxon CEO Darren Woods had also described Venezuela as effectively “un-investable” earlier this year because of concerns about investment protections. However, Exxon said in March that it would send a technical team to study potential opportunities in the country.

Exxon already has substantial experience in the neighboring Guyana market through the highly productive Stabroek Block, which has been producing more than 900,000 barrels of oil per day. That regional experience could provide technical and operational advantages if Exxon ultimately expands into Venezuela.

Washington Is Reshaping Venezuela’s Oil Industry

The potential return of U.S. oil majors forms part of a much broader effort by Washington to rebuild Venezuela’s energy sector. The United States has secured access to 17 major Venezuelan oil fields containing roughly 64–65 billion barrels of proven reserves. Those fields could eventually support production of up to 1.5 million barrels per day, although restoring Venezuela’s damaged infrastructure would require substantial investment and time.

Several international companies are also preparing new or expanded projects. Chevron, GE Vernova, India’s ONGC, Italy’s Eni and Colombia’s GeoPark are among the companies involved in negotiations or potential agreements. The developments indicate that Venezuela could once again become an important destination for global energy capital after years of declining production and underinvestment.

For global oil markets, the potential production increase is more significant than any individual corporate agreement. Venezuela possesses some of the world’s largest crude reserves, but its existing output remains constrained by aging infrastructure, limited investment and operational challenges. A meaningful recovery therefore would likely take years rather than months.

What Could Venezuela Mean for XOM Stock and Oil Markets?

For Exxon investors, a potential Venezuelan expansion could provide access to additional long-term reserves and production opportunities, but the financial benefits would not necessarily emerge immediately. Developing large oil projects requires substantial capital expenditure, while political and contractual protections will remain critical to any investment decision.

The development could also influence global oil-market dynamics. If Venezuela eventually adds significant production, additional crude supply could place downward pressure on prices, although the ultimate effect would depend on global demand, production growth elsewhere and the pace at which Venezuelan infrastructure is restored.

Investors will therefore monitor whether Exxon converts its technical assessment into a formal agreement, the terms offered to foreign operators and the pace of new production. The broader question for XOM stock is whether Venezuela can become a commercially attractive growth opportunity without exposing Exxon to the political and operational risks that led it to leave the country in the first place.