Opinion: Trump’s Weaponization of Oil Is Russia’s Death Knell

Those political pundits protesting the arrest of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro are missing the point. The United States started the New Year by waging total war against Russia, aimed at annulling their oil revenues that finances their war machine. From this point forward Russia is doomed.

Trump’s War started on Jan. 2 with Amerca’s control of Venezuela’s oil reserves, followed by US Coast guard seizures of several Russian oil vessels that were evading sanctions. On Jan. 7, Trump dealt Russia a crushing blow by endorsing a stalled Senate bill that implements hefty tariffs on countries receiving Russian petroleum.

Trump wants to reimburse US companies revamping Venezuela’s oil industry. Tapping into Venezuela’s $17 trillion oil reserves is an economic boon. Equally important, it provides leverage to increase global oil supplies thereby reducing oil prices. This will pummel Russia’s oil-based economy.

Not only is Russia doomed, but the Venezuelan incursion becomes the impetus for a reshuffling of the world order not seen since the Soviet Union’s collapse. Venezuela, Russia, Cuba, Iran, and North Korea are critically linked through energy or military connections. Decreasing global oil prices further exacerbates their collective vulnerability towards collapse.

American control of Venezuela’s oil industry, overseen by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, would allow the US to manipulate the world oil market. This echoes former President Ronald Reagan who engineered an oil production increase in the 1980s, causing the twin collapse of oil prices and the former Soviet Union.

So far, the Trump Administration has decisively failed to stop Russia’s war. However, this new tactic of depressing global oil prices will conceivably pummel large oil producers like Russia and Iran, who happen to be the world’s most dangerous Terrorist states.

Never mind the fact that it may take years and tens of billions of dollars to revamp Venezuela’s oil industry. Trump is messaging a determination to ensure that America will be in the driver’s seat controlling global oil prices, cementing America’s leadership.

On Jan. 7, Trump willed his determination into reality when the US Coast Guard seized two Russian flagged tankers. The Bella-1, part of Russia’s sanctions-evading fleet connected to Venezuela was seized while nearby Russian Navy vessels did nothing.

The previous day, the interim Venezuelan government promised to send 50 million barrels of oil to the US. Those who discount this as a miniscule amount are overlooking something. We are in the midst of a military/proxy world war, involving Russia, China, Iran, US and Europe. The outcome of which may be determined by oil, rather than diplomatic channels or attrition of soldiers or weaponry.

Naysayers who insist that Venezuelan oil is too costly or difficult to refine, should take their cue from history. During World War II, the United States almost doubled coal production, which helped win the war.

Even before the US incursion of Venezuela, global oil prices had fallen 20% in 2025, seriously eroding Russia’s oil revenues representing 35-40% of their economy. Former Trump administration economist Larry Kudlow suggested on a recent segment of Fox News that Trump’s strategy is to position oil much lower. “Oil at $45 would be impossible for Russia to continue its war.”

America’s incursion of Venezuela was perfectly timed as widespread unrest occurs in Iran. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Iran’s fanatical leader Ali Khamenei is considering exile to Russia as Iran faces collapse.

Meanwhile global oil supplies are projected to exceed demand by 3.8 million barrels per day in 2026. A friendly pro-Western regime change in Iran would induce the US to remove sanctions on Iranian oil adding additional global oil supplies. In addition, Russia is increasingly feeling more pressure as Ukraine’s strikes on Russia’s oil facilities or tankers hit a record 24 in December of last year.

As a New Year begins, the Trump administration is waging war on Russia’s oil economy. The current administration should continue their big stick approach by closing down Russia’s sanctions-evading shadow oil fleet. It should provide Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles to destroy Russia’s oil facilities and punish countries doing oil business with Russia by implementing devastating tariffs.

The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.