Trump Fails to Build Trust with U.S.-Venezuela Oil Deal

The history of U.S. intervention in Latin America is complicated, to say the least. For decades, Latin American socialists have used the concept of “American imperialism” to convince millions that Washington is a threat to Latin American sovereignty. That perception has faded somewhat, but the oil deal with the Trump administration gives them a new inroad.

Growing up in Caracas, I experienced the slow decline of Venezuela’s institutions and economy. I was always taught that oil is a valuable resource that’s also tied to our national pride. That didn’t mean much — until oil prices tanked in the mid-2010s, the government started printing money, and I had to carry a backpack full of cash to buy an empanada. The Chávez and Maduro regimes eroded our national treasure to buy political influence, and officials got rich as Venezuelans starved. For me and many my age, “fighting for a better future” was not a catchphrase, but a conviction carried on the streets of Caracas at a great personal risk.

DP

About the Author

Daniel Piñero

Daniel Piñero is a Venezuelan dissident living in the United States. He is a member of the 2026 class of the Young Voices Dissident Project.

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The history of U.S. intervention in Latin America is complicated, to say the least. For decades, Latin American socialists have used the concept of “American imperialism” to convince millions that Washington is a threat to Latin American sovereignty. That perception has faded somewhat, but the oil deal with the Trump administration gives them a new inroad.

Growing up in Caracas, I experienced the slow decline of Venezuela’s institutions and economy. I was always taught that oil is a valuable resource that’s also tied to our national pride. That didn’t mean much — until oil prices tanked in the mid-2010s, the government started printing money, and I had to carry a backpack full of cash to buy an empanada. The Chávez and Maduro regimes eroded our national treasure to buy political influence, and officials got rich as Venezuelans starved. For me and many my age, “fighting for a better future” was not a catchphrase, but a conviction carried on the streets of Caracas at a great personal risk.