US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order on Venezuelan oil revenues, which aims to ensure that the money remains protected from being used in legal proceedings.
The executive order, released on Saturday, states that if the funds were seized for such uses, it could undermine key US efforts to ensure economic and political stability in Venezuela.
The order comes amid warnings from top oil company executives that the turmoil and instability in Venezuela could make the country less attractive for private investment and reconstruction.
Trump, who met with US oil executives two days ago, tried to allay the concerns of oil companies and said the executives would work directly with the US, not the Venezuelan government.
Venezuela has a history of seizing state assets, ongoing US sanctions, and decades of political uncertainty.
Getting US oil companies to invest in Venezuela and help rebuild the country's infrastructure is a top priority for the Trump administration following the arrest of now-ousted leader Nicolas Maduro.
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