Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) has set the stage with its 2030 Plan, aiming to achieve $25 billion in earnings growth and $35 billion in additional cash flow growth, largely driven by increased upstream productivity and new energyMonte Independent Investment Research: Michael Del Monte is a buy-side equity analyst with expertise in the technology, energy, industrials, and materials sectors. Prior to working in the investment management industry, Michael spent over a decade in professional services working across indus ...

Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) has set the stage with its 2030 Plan, aiming to achieve $25 billion in earnings growth and $35 billion in additional cash flow growth, largely driven by increased upstream productivity and new energyMonte Independent Investment Research: Michael Del Monte is a buy-side equity analyst with expertise in the technology, energy, industrials, and materials sectors. Prior to working in the investment management industry, Michael spent over a decade in professional services working across indus ...

Group 1 - President Trump indicated he might block ExxonMobil from investing in Venezuela, expressing dissatisfaction with the company's cautious stance on the investment potential of the country [2] - ExxonMobil's CEO Darren W. Woods stated that Venezuela needs to amend its laws to become an attractive investment destination, which has drawn attention and weakened the White House's efforts to encourage international energy companies to participate in Venezuela's reconstruction [2] - ExxonMobil has a troubled history in Venezuela, having faced nationalization of its assets in 2007 and subsequently filing a lawsuit for $12 billion in compensation, of which it only recovered a small portion [2] Group 2 - U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced that major oil companies including Chevron, Shell, Repsol, and Eni will "immediately increase" their investments in Venezuela following discussions with Trump [3] - Wright mentioned that he has contacted several U.S. oil exploration companies that are ready to visit Venezuela for assessments, indicating a proactive approach to investment in the region [3] Group 3 - When asked about the possibility of deploying U.S. security forces to ensure the safety of personnel and assets in Venezuela, Wright stated that this is not being considered, emphasizing that there is no need to force U.S. companies back into the market [4] - Wright expressed optimism that the local security situation in Venezuela would significantly improve within a month, which could facilitate investment opportunities [4]

Group 1 - President Trump indicated that ExxonMobil may be excluded from future U.S. involvement in Venezuela's oil sector due to dissatisfaction with the company's response to a recent meeting [1] - ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods stated that Venezuela is currently "uninvestable" due to weak legal protections and past asset seizures, requiring significant changes to hydrocarbon laws before considering reentry [2][5] - Woods emphasized the need for durable legal and investment protections and an invitation from the Venezuelan government for ExxonMobil to commit to investments [5] Group 2 - ExxonMobil has a long history in Venezuela, having first entered the market in the 1940s and withdrawing in 2007 following nationalization efforts by Hugo Chávez's government [6][8] - Trump inquired about the speed of ExxonMobil's potential reentry, to which Woods responded that the company could begin assessments almost immediately if a deal were reached [9]

【文/观察者网 陈思佳】掳走委内瑞拉总统马杜罗后，美国总统特朗普开始推动利用委内瑞拉石油的计 划。但一些美国石油公司反应冷淡，让特朗普极为不满。据英国《金融时报》1月12日报道，由于美国 石油巨头埃克森美孚不愿意在委内瑞拉投资，特朗普威胁要将该公司踢出相关计划。 报道称，特朗普要求美国石油公司向委内瑞拉投资1000亿美元，以大幅增加石油产量，但美国石油企业 大多保持谨慎。埃克森美孚首席执行官达伦·伍兹更是在近日的白宫会议上"唱反调"，认为委内瑞拉目 前"不适合投资"。 对此，特朗普11日在空军一号上接受媒体采访时称："我不喜欢埃克森的回应……我可能倾向于把埃克 森排除在外。我不喜欢他们的回应，他们太会耍花招了。" 特朗普试图打消石油公司对在委投资缺乏法律、金融和安全保障的担忧，他声称："他们会很安全，不 会有问题，不会有问题的。他们过去遇到问题，是因为当时的总统不是特朗普，当时是一群蠢货在执 政。"他补充说，很多石油界人士对委内瑞拉的机遇"非常感兴趣"。 在特朗普的追问下，伍兹才承诺将在数周内派遣技术团队前往委内瑞拉评估情况，并表示"有信心看到 投资所需的改变得到落实"。 《金融时报》称，埃克森美孚公司暂未对 ...

Darren Woods, chairman and chief executive officer Exxon Mobil Corp., during a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to sideline Exxon Mobil from Venezuela's energy market, saying he didn't like their response to his calls for oil companies to quickly re-enter the South American country."I didn't like Exxon's response. You know we have so many that want it. I'd probably be inclined to keep Exxon o ...

Group 1 - The CEO of ExxonMobil, Darren Woods, stated that Venezuela's current business environment is "not investable" and emphasized the need for significant changes before making large capital commitments [1][2] - President Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Woods' response and indicated a willingness to exclude ExxonMobil from the Venezuelan market, suggesting that the company was being uncooperative [1][2] - The U.S. government is negotiating with Western oil companies to attract at least $100 billion in private sector investment to help rebuild Venezuela's oil sector, but major energy firms remain cautious without specific guarantees [2][4] Group 2 - Under pressure from Trump, Woods softened his stance, stating that ExxonMobil would send a technical team to Venezuela in the coming weeks to assess the situation and expressed confidence that necessary changes could be implemented [3] - Chevron, the only U.S. company currently operating in Venezuela, conveyed a more optimistic outlook, stating it could increase production by 50% within 18 to 24 months by expanding existing operations [4] - Trump reassured that companies would be safe and that security would not be an issue, addressing concerns about legal, financial, and safety guarantees for investments in Venezuela [4]

Core Viewpoint - The handling of Venezuela by the Trump administration may jeopardize its oil objectives, as emphasized by former National Security Advisor John Bolton, who suggests that focusing on oil deals rather than regime change could deter investment from oil companies [1][3]. Group 1: Investment and Infrastructure - The U.S. government aims to allow major American oil companies to invest billions to repair Venezuela's severely damaged oil infrastructure, with an estimated cost of $183 billion needed for rebuilding the energy sector from 2026 to 2040 [3][5]. - Trump claims that Venezuela will "hand over" up to 50 million barrels of oil, valued at over $2 billion, to benefit both nations [1][3]. - Chevron, the only U.S. company still operating in Venezuela, is currently focused on employee safety and asset integrity [5]. Group 2: Political and Legal Environment - Bolton argues that U.S. oil companies prefer a democratically elected government with an independent judiciary rather than the current Maduro regime, which is viewed as a "thug rule" [3][4]. - The political situation remains uncertain, with Trump seemingly favoring former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as the interim president, marking a shift from previous policies that supported opposition leaders [3][4]. - Historical context shows that Venezuela nationalized its oil industry in 1976, leading to the expropriation of foreign assets, which has created a legacy of distrust among potential investors [4]. Group 3: Challenges to Investment - The infrastructure in Venezuela is in a dire state due to decades of mismanagement and underinvestment, making it difficult to develop its vast oil reserves [5]. - The lack of political stability and legal order poses significant risks for foreign companies considering investment in Venezuela [5]. - Experts note that while the potential returns on investment could be substantial, the current political and regulatory uncertainties may dampen enthusiasm from oil giants [5].

Core Viewpoint - The current business environment in Venezuela is deemed "uninvestable" by ExxonMobil's CEO, leading to President Trump's threat to exclude the company from investment opportunities in the country [1][2]. Group 1: Company Perspectives - ExxonMobil's CEO, Darren Woods, expressed skepticism about investing in Venezuela, citing the need for "significant changes" before making large capital commitments, especially given the company's past experiences with asset seizures [2][3]. - Woods stated that under the current legal and business framework, Venezuela is "uninvestable," highlighting the reluctance of major energy companies to enter the market without specific guarantees [3]. - Despite Woods' cautious stance, he indicated that ExxonMobil would send a technical team to Venezuela to assess the situation, showing a slight shift in attitude under pressure from Trump [4]. Group 2: Industry Reactions - In contrast to ExxonMobil's cautious approach, Chevron, the only U.S. company currently operating in Venezuela, conveyed a more optimistic outlook, suggesting it could increase production by 50% within 18 to 24 months [5]. - Trump noted that many in the oil industry are "very interested" in opportunities in Venezuela, despite the overarching concerns regarding legal, financial, and security guarantees [5]. - Trump reassured that companies would be safe and that there would be no issues, aiming to alleviate concerns about investing in Venezuela [5].

Group 1: ExxonMobil's Position on Venezuela - President Trump expressed an inclination to keep ExxonMobil out of Venezuela, citing dissatisfaction with the company's response to his $100 billion investment plan for the Venezuelan oil industry [1][2] - Exxon's CEO, Darren Woods, stated that Venezuela is currently "uninvestable" due to the existing legal and commercial frameworks, indicating a lack of readiness for investment [2][3] - ExxonMobil has a historical presence in Venezuela, having operated there twice, but faced asset seizures on both occasions, which contributes to the company's cautious stance on reentering the market [3] Group 2: Industry Reactions and Developments - Other oil executives, such as Chevron's vice chairman Mark Nelson, expressed optimism, announcing plans to double production with partners in Venezuela "effective immediately" [4] - The context of these discussions includes recent military actions in Venezuela, where U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro, who is facing legal issues in the U.S. [4] - Exxon's stock price has remained stable, showing an increase of over 16% in the past year, reflecting investor sentiment despite the geopolitical uncertainties [5]