Following the U.S. surprise intervention in Venezuela earlier this month, the Trump administration has signaled an interest in the country’s largely untapped critical minerals deposits. Last week, a White House official told Latitude Media that the administration is “closely looking” at those resources, and that the U.S. private sector is too.
In addition to its expansive oil reserves, Venezuela does indeed have deposits of critical minerals like coltan and bauxite that are widely used in the equipment supporting artificial intelligence and defense systems — two top priorities of the Trump administration. But there are some daunting realities on the ground; Venezuela lacks reliable geological data and modern mining infrastructure, and potential foreign investors have no guarantee of political stability.
In this Latitude Dispatch, we’ll be joined by Alexis Harmon, assistant director of the Global Energy Center at the Atlantic Council, for a discussion about the challenges of transforming Venezuela into a reliable source of critical minerals — and why the Trump administration’s interest is likely a pipe dream.
We’ll unpack:
- What we know about Venezuela’s supply of critical minerals and possible rare earth elements.
- The risks for foreign investors, both technical and political
- How U.S. intervention in Venezuela might impact China’s dominance in the region
- Lessons from Venezuela’s much more mature oil industry, which President Donald Trump is pressuring U.S. companies to invest in
- The implications for Trump’s actions in other countries with critical minerals resources, like Greenland
Bring your questions or submit them ahead of time to editors@latitudemedia.com.
Can’t attend live? Register to receive a recording of the Dispatch.
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