MenuFollowing last month’s dramatic capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the Trump Administration is now shifting into high gear to expand the footprint of Western companies in Venezuela’s oil sector. Through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a series of new Venezuela General Licenses (GLs) have been published, including GL 50, which authorizes companies,
Category Archives: Articles & Blogs
Trump’s Greenland Minerals Ambitions: What’s Beneath The Ice
On January 21, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a framework for a potential deal over Greenland after meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. “We have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” Trump wrote. This agreement prompted the U.S. president to back down from
Questions Remain About Russian Oil In U.S.–India Trade Deal
President Donald Trump promised to reconsider tariffs on India if New Delhi ceases purchasing Russian crude oil. Targeting Moscow’s second-largest crude oil buyer strikes directly at the Kremlin’s financial underbelly in its war of attrition against Ukraine. While this leverage may prove consequential as peace talks are limping, some in Washington worry that pressure on India is
Japan’s 2026 Elections Redefine The Country’s Energy Landscape
Japan’s 2026 election results signal a major energy shift for the country. Sanae Takaichi of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) reclaimed her position as Prime Minister of Japan, winning by a landslide during the snap general election. She effectively gave her party control of the lower house with a two-thirds supermajority without any coalition obligations.
Gaza Peace Plan: The Infrastructure Realities Of Trump’s Riviera Dream
The vision for a rebuilt Gaza that Jared Kushner unveiled at the World Economic Forum in Davos this January is nothing if not audacious. A “New Gaza,” defined by skyscrapers and high-tech data centers, aims to replace a century of terrorism and wars — and grievance politics with the promise and logic of the free
Trump Says Ayatollah’s Dictatorship Must Go – What About Iranian Oil?
Each new crisis in Iran revives fears of a repeat of 1979, when Iranian oil production collapsed by 80 percent, removing 7 percent of supply from the global market and triggering a historic energy shock. Today, with Iran’s Supreme Leader, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), including its bloody volunteer Basij militia, killing the citizens en masse, and with
Top 6 American Energy Trends To Watch In 2026
The rise of AI, the shift from renewables to fossil fuels and nuclear, and other changes in Trump Administration policies indicate that 2026 will continue to reshape U.S. energy. The growing focus on energy as a national security instrument is driving a chain reaction, shifting priorities across sectors, easing restrictions, and prioritizing the expansion of conventional energy
Trump Confronts Venezuelan Oil Crisis As Iran Teeters
With acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodrigues coming to Washington on Tuesday, January 13th, all eyes are on whether the Chavista regime can negotiate its way out of the crisis caused by the rendition of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, by the U.S. military on January 3rd. Read the full article here
Uncertainty: Top 5 Russian Energy Trends To Watch In 2026
The Russia-Ukraine war has been brutal to the Russian energy sector. New problems are emerging, and old issues are accumulating as Russia enters 2026. Losing Syria in December of 2024 and Venezuela in January 2026 exposes Russia’s global ambition as an emperor with no clothes. Ukraine’s bloody slog comes at a huge cost. Read the full article
Decline: Top Five 2025 Developments In Russian Energy
Exporting energy has long been recognized as a money-making machine for Moscow. It has not only filled the Kremlin’s war chest but also generated immense personal wealth for Russian leaders and affiliated oligarchs. But in 2025, the picture of Russian energy became much more complicated. The Russian energy sector now functions not only as a strategic asset