The U.S. government is pursuing a major stake in Venezuelan oil reserves via a potential partnership with Venezuelan businessman Alejandro Betancourt, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The negotiations are focused on as many as 17 oil fields in Venezuela’s main petroleum basins, while the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital is being discussed as the potential agency to oversee the investment, the report added.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
(Reporting by Fabiola Arámburo in Mexico City; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)