ExxonMobil Defies Trump, Keeps Venezuela Oil Option Open Amidst Political Turmoil

• ExxonMobil signals readiness to re-enter Venezuela's oil sector, despite President Trump's public disapproval.
• Trump expressed disliking Exxon's response, calling them 'too cute' after CEO Darren Woods met him at the White House.
• Exxon's CEO Woods had previously stated Venezuela was 'uninvestable' without legal reforms and investment protection.
• The company plans to send a technical assessment team to evaluate Venezuela's vast but degraded oil infrastructure.
• Unresolved debts from nationalization under Hugo Chávez and ongoing policy volatility remain major hurdles for US oil majors.

Why It Matters: ExxonMobil maintains interest in Venezuela's oil, defying Trump, but faces significant hurdles despite political shifts.