Oil as Policy Weapon: Lessons from Iraq to Venezuela

A New York Times analysis traces how oil has shaped U.S. foreign policy for decades—from Iraq and Kuwait to Iran’s 1953 coup—showing Washington has sought access to oil rather than openly seizing it. It notes that under Trump the push to force Venezuela to cede its oil risks reviving the “oil grab” narrative, risking anti-American backlash and violence, even as the U.S. is now a net energy exporter and China dominates Iraq’s oil. The piece emphasizes that perceptions of exploitation can undermine legitimacy and offers a cautionary lesson for U.S. policy moving forward.