US Seizes Maduro, Eyes Venezuela's $17 Trillion Oil & Mineral Riches

• US attacked Caracas, captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife for trial in the US.
• Venezuela holds the world's largest proven hydrocarbon reserves, including 303 billion barrels of oil valued at $17 trillion.
• The country also possesses 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas ($800 billion), 161 metric tonnes of gold ($22 billion), and 4 billion tonnes of iron ore ($400 billion).
• Despite immense wealth, US sanctions limit Venezuela's oil production to just 1% of global output.
• The Trump Administration expressed intent to 'run' Venezuela, eyeing its vast untapped resources including rare earths, coal, nickel, copper, and phosphate.

Why It Matters: Maduro's capture highlights Venezuela's immense $17 trillion natural resource wealth, now eyed by the US.