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Chevron · Geopolitics · Oil · Venezuela
Former Chevron executive Ali Moshiri covertly advised the CIA on Venezuelan leadership succession, recommending Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, over opposition leader María Corina Machado due to Machado's lack of security and oil infrastructure control.
This advice, given as the U.S. planned to capture President Nicolás Maduro, leveraged Moshiri's unparalleled access to Venezuelan power circles, filling a critical intelligence gap for the CIA. Chevron, the sole major U.S. oil company remaining in Venezuela, is now strategically positioned to significantly increase its oil production by up to 50% within 18-24 months.
This outcome validates CEO Mike Wirth's long-term strategy of maintaining investment in Venezuela despite decades of political instability and nationalization efforts. While Chevron denies authorizing Moshiri's specific engagements with the CIA, the company's extensive network and Moshiri's ongoing influence (now advising PdVSA and raising $3 billion for oil projects) underscore a complex interplay between corporate interests, intelligence operations, and geopolitical strategy.
The Trump administration, seeking stable oil flow and a quick win, ultimately benefited from this pragmatic approach, highlighting the unsentimental playbook of the energy industry in autocratic regimes.
