China oil reserves

Trump Considers Venezuela as 51st State Fueled by Oil Reserves

Following the U.S. intervention that removed President Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump is reportedly considering making oil-rich Venezuela a U.S. state. Driven by an estimated $40 trillion in oil reserves, Trump has expressed confidence in his popularity among Venezuelan citizens and has stated the United States would manage the country during its transition. While the administration is actively encouraging oil company investments and has seen increased oil exports under its management, making Venezuela a U.S. state would necessitate congressional approval and Venezuelan consent, which has been firmly rejected by Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.

Read More

China Stockpiled Oil Ahead of Iran War

According to an analysis by the US Energy Information Administration, China significantly replenished its strategic oil reserves in 2025, adding an average of 1.1 million barrels per day to reach nearly 1.4 billion barrels by December. This build-up, which included both state and commercial reserves, continued into early 2026 before the onset of the conflict in Iran. The administration estimates that by December 2025, China’s state reserves approximated 360 million barrels, while its commercial reserves reached about 1 billion barrels.

Read More