US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum met with Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Wednesday, in the latest sign of the Trump administration's push to secure access to the South American country's natural resources.
Burgum, who also leads President Donald Trump's National Energy Dominance Council, is expected to meet with US and Venezuelan companies during his two-day visit, according to a post on X by the US diplomatic mission in Venezuela. The mission described the trip as 'another vital and historic step' supporting the administration's phased plan to turn Venezuela around.
The visit follows a February trip by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, which focused on Venezuela's oil potential. Laura Dogu, the top US diplomat in Venezuela, joined Burgum for the meeting with Rodríguez at the presidential palace.
The Trump administration last month announced plans to create a critical minerals trading bloc with allies to counter China's dominance in the supply of elements used in fighter jets and smartphones. Venezuela is rich in gold, copper, diamonds and other minerals, but the industry is poorly regulated and unsafe working conditions are common.
Before his capture by US forces two months ago, former President Nicolás Maduro and his allies had claimed US hostility was driven by a desire for Venezuela's oil and mineral wealth.
