Not Just Oil: In Venezuela, U.S. Interior Secretary Pushes for Mining Access

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/nyregion/not-just-oil-in-venezuela-us-interior-secretary-pushes-for-mining-access.html

https://archive.ph/mr8MI

Not Just Oil: In Venezuela, U.S. Interior Secretary Pushes for Mining Access
Venezuela is home to large reserves of rare earths, gold and other valuable minerals that the Trump administration wants to exert more control over.
By Max Bearak and Lisa Friedman
March 5, 2026, 7:38 p.m. ET

With a couple dozen representatives of American mining companies and other firms in tow, the U.S. interior secretary, Doug Burgum, pushed for greater U.S. access to Venezuela’s reserves of critical minerals and gold during a visit to the country’s capital on Wednesday and Thursday.

Mr. Burgum’s visit was the latest meeting between a high-ranking U.S. official and Venezuela’s new interim government, led by Delcy Rodríguez, aimed at opening up the South American country’s economy to U.S. investors. Previous visitors have included the energy secretary: Chris Wright; the Southern Command chief, Gen. Francis Donovan,; and the C.I.A. director, William Burns.

On Wednesday, Ms. Rodríguez pledged to work at “Trump speed” in accelerating U.S. access to Venezuelan minerals. She promised to introduce a new mining measure to national lawmakers in the coming days that would allow foreign companies to extract gold, diamonds and rare earths. She didn’t offer any further details about the possible proposal.

Mr. Burgum’s visit coincided with a State Department announcement that the United States and Venezuela were re-establishing “diplomatic and consular relations.” A White House official also disclosed an American-brokered deal that was not publicly announced between Venezuela’s state mining company and Trafigura, a Singapore-based commodities giant, for the sale of up to 1,000 kilograms of gold, which is worth well over $100 million.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the agreement publicly, said the deal was part of an effort by the administration to restore Venezuela’s mining sector and increase investment there. Officials with Trafigura did not respond to a request for comment.

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