Tim Marshall in The Sunday Times suggested that Trump is actually after the Venezuelan rare earth resources and the oil is just a smokescreen for invading and taking their natural resources for the USA.
People need to stop trying to ascribe logic or strategic thinking to a senile old man who's grasp on reality is questionable at best.
Well the US oil companies have said NOPE! to Trump. “Uninvestable” was their verdict.
People need to stop trying to ascribe logic or strategic thinking to a senile old man who's grasp on reality is questionable at best.
I disagree. Trump might look "senile" or chaotic (a distraction), but every decisions he made others had no comeback (look at the "seven" small people who couldn't even object for fear of retaliation etc) This is a person who knows how to wield power "effectively" (albeit with deep state "pulling" the string), and he knows he has the "cards". Becoming the President of a superpower is by no means a simple task, even getting there is a major challenge and only those supported by "deep state" can do so. Although Trump will or will not be the President for life, he is a person in hurry to reset the entire system structure. The question that needs to be asked is who is he preparing the groundwork for, assuming he will not be the next President. He knows economically and technologically he is facing intense challenges from the East (China) and the only way is to face up to the challenges, even if it means making unpopular decisions. Two things that are urgent to Trump is to maintain petrol dollar and getting the rare earth, with the former a decision to break the advancement of the "belt and road" (stabilise own economy), and the latter (power) to use it to reinforce his decision. As he said (somewhere in the media but I can't remember now), "you are either with him or you are not" and those that are not will suffer economically (chaos in own country etc). As far as petrol dollar is concerned, the only big buyer is China while the rest of the world is insignificant and will not affect much. As for rare earth production, it will take 20-30 years of intensive loss investments and he knows the only way to do this is to force or put pressure on all his alliance for contribution. If his plan works, then the entire western world or alliance will see an increase in inflation (someone got to pay the bill!). The April meeting with China will be a process to "stall" or to slow down China progression as the counter balance to "West" (US to maintain the hegemon status). Therefore, all the decisions or actions taken so far are to have a "stronger hands". At some point in future, all the major investments (force to invest) will move towards rare earth production.
(my response should be in Trump's thread ... )
Trump might look "senile" or chaotic
He's had either a series of strokes, or a TIA that are showing as frontotemporal-lobe dementia. One of the reasons he's told reporters he's had 3 or 4 MIR scans and keeps 'acing' cognitive tests is that they're the sorts of frequent tests you'd do with someone with this sort of dementia just to keep a track on how its progressing, I note he's started slurping (wet voice) now which may be dysphagia (excess saliva and trouble swallowing) which is another symptom. It's well known he has heart disease (cankles) and I'd bet money he has kidney disease - given his weight and reported diet. They've even had to put permanent signs up pointing out directions to the Oval Office or the West Wing - as if any President wouldn't know where those things are...
The bloke can't walk in a straight line, is clearly sun-downing, and can't stay awake even when he's in a presser.
I'll give him April, maybe May at best before he either departs the white house in a casket or 25th.
bloke can't walk in a straight line
Harsh. I'm just helping get rid of the excess Christmas booze, alright?
JD Vance has less charisma than a pair of three week old gym underwear and, I think, less support by a long way from MAGA nutcases than the orange shitgibbon has.
If TACO does get 25th'd or dies, then MAGA will eat itself before the end of the term. That's not necessarily a good thing, but one can hope that the factions that form can't stand each other and splinter into far right MAGA nutcases and a more moderate GOP somewhere to their left.
The $2bn controlled by President Trump ^^ has started to roll in. Some has been deposited in an account in Qatar
He's protected the money by passing legislation, is this necessary?
"The Trump administration has completed its first Venezuelan oil sale, valued at $500 million, an administration official confirmed to The Hill on Wednesday."
"Semafor first reported the deal, including that revenue from it is being held in bank accounts, including one in Qatar, that are controlled by the U.S. government. "
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5689426-venezuela-oil-sale-trump/
Venezuela is now exporting LPG to the US, oil exports have recovered following the US enforcement of sanctions in the lead up to their attack
First vessel comes after Darcy Rodriguez inked country’s inaugural export deal for LPG
LPG carrier is expected to discharge at Providence, Rhode Island
Oil exports recovered in January
https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1156251/First-Venezuelan-LPG-export-cargo-departs-for-US
There's movement on investment in Venezuela's oil industry from incumbent Chevron and now Shell,
Chevron and Venezuela's energy authorities have agreed on preliminary terms to expand Chevron's largest oil project, Petropiar, in the vast Orinoco Belt, two of the sources said.
Venezuela's oil ministry, PDVSA and Chevron did not reply to requests for comment.
The deal would give Chevron the rights to produce from the Ayacucho 8 area located south of the Petropiar project area, the two sources added, a large block with proven oil resources. This would allow Chevron to make a substantial increase in the extra-heavy oil it produces and exports.AND
Shell signed preliminary oil and gas agreements with Venezuela last week, when U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum was in Caracas. Venezuela's government did not make public the details of those deals and the fields included.
Reuters has learned from an official summary document of the agreements that Shell aims to develop the Carito and Pirital fields in the coveted Monagas North region in eastern Venezuela. These are among the few areas in the country that can produce light and medium crude and natural gas, prized by oil companies that need it for blending to facilitate exports of Venezuela's heavy oil.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/chevron-shell-closing-first-big-oil-production-deals-venezuela-since-us-captured-2026-03-10/