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Venezuela and Russia Attend G20 Energy Ministerial in Houston Amid Shifting U.S. Diplomacy
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Venezuela Joins G20 Energy Ministerial in Houston
Venezuela is sending a delegation to the Group of 20 energy ministers’ meeting in Houston this week, despite not being a G20 member. A White House official confirmed that the Venezuelan team will not take part in closed-door ministerial sessions but will join bilateral talks, side events and industry discussions. The delegation includes hydrocarbons minister Paula Henao and Jovanny Martínez, executive vice-president of state-owned PDVSA. The invitation, extended by the Trump administration, is framed as a move to give Caracas greater visibility and to facilitate U.S. companies’ access to Venezuela’s estimated 65 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. The administration has also announced a deal granting a U.S. firm a 35 % equity stake in North American Blue Energy Partners and a right to purchase 20 % of Venezuelan crude at cost.
Parallel Russian Participation and European Pushback
A Russian government official is also slated to attend the three-day energy gathering, which runs from Monday through Wednesday, according to the White House. The identity of the Russian envoy has not been disclosed. European officials, including German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, have expressed concern that Russia’s presence signals a normalization of relations despite its ongoing war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has indicated that President Vladimir Putin may attend the subsequent G20 leaders’ summit in Miami, though a final decision has not been made.
Official Statements and Diplomatic Signals
President Donald Trump said he recently held a “great” conversation with President Putin and reported that the Russian leader expressed a desire for an agreement to end the war, while U.S., Ukrainian and European intelligence officials remain skeptical of Moscow’s intentions. Trump has urged oil companies to increase production in Venezuela, linking the move to broader U.S. goals of energy abundance and security. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright are among the officials attending the Houston meeting.
Potential Economic and Political Impact
The inclusion of Venezuela and Russia highlights the Trump administration’s strategy of engaging former adversaries to secure energy supplies amid Middle-East disruptions. Analysts suggest that the side-event networking could accelerate dealmaking for U.S. firms seeking access to Venezuelan oil fields. At the same time, the parallel congressional push on a new sanctions package targeting Russia underscores domestic political tension over how closely the United States should cooperate with Moscow while supporting Ukraine’s war effort.