The United States could open the Strait of Hormuz and seize oil to generate massive revenue, according to President Donald Trump. In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump claimed such a move would create an oil stream for the world. This follows U.S. intervention in Venezuela, where American companies have resumed development of the country's oil industry. During a primetime address focused on Iran on Wednesday, Trump highlighted increased production and sales of oil and gas from Venezuela, which he described as having the second-largest reserves on Earth after the United States. "And now we're working along with Venezuela and are, in a true sense, joint venture partners. We're getting along incredibly well in the production and sale of massive amounts of oil and gas," Trump said. In recent days, the president has offered conflicting statements on whether the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened to end the war in Iran, often attempting to deflect responsibility from the U.S. for reopening the strategic waterway.
Trump's claim of seizing oil through military control of the Strait of Hormuz reveals a transactional view of global conflict, where war zones become profit centers. His administration's deep involvement in Venezuela's oil sector shows this is not mere rhetoric but a pattern of resource-driven foreign policy. For Nigerians, this underscores how major powers treat energy-rich regions as spheres of influence rather than sovereign nations. The idea that reopening a critical waterway hinges on financial gain, not stability, shifts the narrative from peace to plunder.
