03.11.2025 21:51
Venezuela, as one of the countries with the richest underground resources in the world, is attracting the attention of the United States. Venezuela, which ranks first in the world in terms of oil reserves, also has significant gold and natural gas reserves. However, the deployment of warships by the U.S. to the Caribbean and the Pacific raises claims that the U.S. has its eyes on Venezuela's underground resources.
Venezuela, one of the richest countries in the world in terms of underground resources, has turned into a treasure that the United States has set its sights on due to its vast wealth.
Venezuela, one of the first countries that comes to mind when talking about oil, is known not only for the energy resources beneath its soil but also for its underground riches consisting of some of the world's most valuable minerals.
Venezuela, which stands out in Latin America for its vast underground wealth, has been in a critical position in Washington's geopolitical calculations for years.
The warships sent by the United States to the Caribbean and the Pacific under the pretext of fighting drug trafficking are closely monitored by the world public opinion as they increase military tension in the region.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and other high-ranking officials describe this move by the United States as an attempt to set its sights on Venezuela's underground resources.
FIRST IN PROVEN OIL RESERVES
According to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Venezuela's daily oil production is expected to average around 1 million barrels by 2025.
Venezuela ranks first in the world with 303 billion 200 million barrels of proven oil reserves.
The oil extracted, especially around the Orinoco Belt and Lake Maracaibo in the western and central regions of the country, forms the backbone of the Venezuelan economy.
According to data from the Venezuelan National Oil Company (PDVSA), the country generated approximately 17.5 billion dollars in revenue from oil exports in 2024.
Venezuela, which is also among the leading countries in terms of natural gas reserves, ranks 8th globally with 201 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of reserves.
Most of the country's natural gas reserves are concentrated in the Paria Peninsula, Sucre, and Delta Amacuro regions along the northeastern coastline. These areas are located in strategic locations opening to the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
According to data from the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), it is estimated that the potential gold reserves waiting to be extracted underground across the country exceed 7,000 tons.
GOLD SECTOR PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT FOR 250,000 PEOPLE
The gold deposits in the country are generally concentrated in the southeast, particularly in the Bolivar state and its surroundings.
The gold sector, which provides employment for more than 250,000 people in Venezuela, was nationalized in 2008 by the decision of then-President Hugo Chavez, along with other mining activities.
With this step, the government aimed to regain full control over the country's underground wealth.
VENEZUELA'S MAIN UNDERGROUND RESOURCES
According to the Ministry of Ecological Mining Development People's Power, the main underground resources in the country are listed as iron, copper, bauxite, coal, nickel, calton, gold, diamonds, zinc, and titanium.
These minerals constitute Venezuela's economically and strategically important resources.
The country, which is first in the world in oil reserves, also has significant regional and global potential in terms of other minerals.
The extraction, processing, and trade of these natural resources play a critical role in the country's economic situation, external debts, and political relations.
In addition to its underground wealth, Venezuela also hosts an extremely rich biological diversity thanks to its geographical location. With this feature, it ranks among the "mega-diverse" countries in the world.
According to Venezuelan media, since September, 57 people have lost their lives in operations conducted by the US in the Caribbean region and the Pacific under the pretext of drug trafficking.
In response to the US operations, statements from both Venezuela and Colombia claim that most of the people killed were not drug traffickers but rather migrants or fishermen.