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US NEWS 
By Andrew Rosati and Annmarie Hordern
President Donald Trump’s energy chief said that the US can help Venezuela drive a “dramatic increase” in oil, natural gas and electricity output this year, as Washington works to issue new licenses aimed at “setting free” the country’s economy.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright spoke to reporters after meeting with acting President Delcy Rodríguez and other top Venezuelan officials at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, as the US pushes to revive Venezuela’s beleaguered oil sector.
“Our government in Washington DC has been working seven days a week to issue licenses so existing businesses in Venezuela, new businesses that want to enter Venezuela, and Venezuelan national companies can buy products, invest money, raise oil production, create new jobs, grow export revenue, all of the things that have constricted Venezuela economy,” Wright said.
“We want to set Venezuela’s people and the economy free,” he added.
Wright is the most senior US official to make a public visit to Venezuela since the Trump administration captured former President Nicolás Maduro in early January. His visit comes as Washington is pressing private companies to shoulder the lion’s share of the burden of revitalizing crude output in Venezuela, which has the world’s largest reserves.
Rodríguez, who spoke alongside Wright, said they discussed forming a long-term partnership that would allow an energy agenda to become “the driving force” of a bilateral relationship that is “productive, effective, beneficial to both countries.”
While US oil executives and industry leaders have stressed that companies need political reforms, security guarantees and other assurances before investing in Venezuela, Wright has said there has been “absolutely overwhelming” interest.
“We spoke very candidly today about the tremendous opportunities in front of us and some of the problems and challenges, and we committed to work together an move ahead to solve them,” Wright said after meeting Rodríguez.
— With assistance from Ari Natter, Andreina Itriago, and Fabiola Zerpa
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