In the early hours of January 3, the Trump administration conducted audacious strikes on Caracas that culminated in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. At the heart of the operation's rationale is the controversial belief that Venezuela's vast oil reserves can be unlocked for U.S. oil companies under American control. Experts have cast serious doubt on whether this strategy makes economic or strategic sense, pointing to Venezuela’s heavy crude, high production costs, and security risks.

In this episode, Jacob Heilbrunn speaks with Greg Priddy, a senior fellow at the Center for the National Interest. Priddy consults for corporate and financial clients on geopolitical risk and previously served as Director for Global Oil at Eurasia Grou ...