Overview
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum met acting President Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas with representatives from more than two dozen mining and trading firms to discuss access to Venezuela’s minerals.
- Rodríguez said she will submit legislation in the coming days to reform Venezuela’s mining laws, a plan officials say would open the sector to large foreign companies and rare earth extraction.
- The White House confirmed a deal for state miner Minerven to sell gold to commodities trader Trafigura, described as part of efforts to restart Venezuela’s formal mining trade.
- The engagement follows U.S. moves to supervise Venezuelan oil sales, including an initial $500 million transaction, with proceeds placed in accounts controlled by Washington.
- Rights advocates and international observers have criticized the January operation that removed Nicolás Maduro and warned that rapid mining expansion could worsen deforestation, pollution and unsafe labor conditions in the Orinoco arc.