The Donald Trump administration has issued a limited license allowing US companies to trade Venezuelan gold. This decision follows a high-level officials' visit to Caracas and marks another step in normalizing relations after the ousting of Nicolás Maduro. Meanwhile, the country is grappling with a catastrophic economic situation, achieving the world's highest inflation rate of 475 percent in 2025.

Approval for Gold Trade

The US issued a license enabling American companies to trade Venezuelan gold following officials' visit to Caracas.

Record Hyperinflation

Venezuela closed 2025 with inflation at 475%, the highest rate recorded in the world.

Return of María Corina Machado

The opposition leader is fighting to maintain political significance and organize free elections in the country.

The United States has decided on a significant shift in policy towards Caracas, extending the process of easing sanctions to the mining sector. The US Treasury Department issued a limited license that enables American companies to purchase and export Venezuelan gold. This decision follows the earlier unblocking of the oil and gas sector, aimed at supporting the political transformation process after the removal from power of Nicolás Maduro. US officials who recently visited the Venezuelan capital emphasize the country's enormous mining potential, seeing it as an opportunity for financial stabilization of the interim administration. However, trade in precious metals remains under strict supervision to prevent funding remnants of the previous regime's structures. The economic situation in Venezuela remains dire, and the latest data for 2025 confirms the scale of the collapse. The country recorded inflation at 475 percent, which is currently the highest figure in the world. Such a drastic devaluation of money primarily hits the civilian population, deepening the humanitarian crisis and forcing millions to emigrate. Despite the political breakthrough, restoring citizens' purchasing power and stabilizing prices of basic goods remain the biggest challenges for the new authorities. Venezuela possesses some of the world's largest reserves of gold and crude oil, but decades of corruption and sanctions have led to an almost complete paralysis of their extraction and legal export. María Corina Machado has returned to the political scene in Caracas, intensifying efforts to conduct fully democratic elections. However, her situation is complicated, as some reports suggest that the Donald Trump administration is beginning to distance itself from the opposition leader, seeking more pragmatic channels of agreement with the current interim government. Machado is lobbying in Washington to maintain the importance of her role in the transformation process, while American decision-makers focus on securing economic and raw material interests in the region. „Cuba will fall pretty soon.” — Donald Trump Highest Inflation in the World in 2025: Venezuela: 475, Argentina: 150, Turkey: 65 475% — was Venezuela's inflation rate in 2025

Mentioned People

  • María Corina Machado — Leader of the Venezuelan opposition striving to conduct democratic elections.
  • Donald Trump — President of the United States, whose administration decides on easing sanctions against Venezuela.
  • Nicolás Maduro — Ousted president of Venezuela, whose rule led to the country's isolation.