Donald Trump has laid claim to billions of dollars' worth of Venezuelan crude, a move that could hand the United States up to 50 million barrels of oil. But the seizure is seen as just the opening salvo in a far more ambitious plan to take control of the country's vast oil wealth.
The White House said Venezuela would be "turning over" nearly $3bn (£2.3bn) of crude stranded in tankers and storage facilities before it is sold on the international market. Following that, the US intends to control all of Venezuela's oil sales "indefinitely".
For the Trump administration, this is the first step in gaining control of Venezuela's crude reserves, which are estimated to represent almost a fifth of the proven reserves on Earth. The broader goal is to push global oil prices down to $50 a barrel.
However, experts have been quick to point out that the cargo grab could be the last easy win for the president. There is no quick or cheap fix to reignite Venezuela's oil production, which has been in decline for years.
The biggest hurdles include high costs and falling returns, as the industry has been long neglected. Unlocking the "tremendous wealth" Trump has spoken of will require far more than a simple transfer of crude, with substantial investment needed to restore production capacity.
