BIG OIL'S VENEZUELA COMEBACK HITS ROADBLOCK Seven months after Nicolás Maduro's removal, major U.S. oil companies including ExxonMobil and Chevron have yet to secure major investment deals in Venezuela. Negotiations have stalled over access to the country's most attractive oil fields, fiscal terms, unresolved compensation disputes from past nationalizations, and concerns over long-term political stability. The recent earthquake also slowed progress. The Trump administration wants Venezuela to rapidly boost oil production to strengthen global supply, but major producers remain cautious about committing billions of dollars. Instead, smaller private energy firms are gaining traction, with several signing preliminary agreements. Officials believe these companies can deploy capital faster, while larger oil majors continue to evaluate opportunities before making long-term investment decisions.(*Walter Bloomberg)