What role could the US play in Venezuela’s ‘bust’ oil industry?

Experts say lifting production to former levels could take decades and huge investment will be needed

The Venezuelan oil industry has been a total bust" for a long time, according to Donald Trump. After attacking Caracas and taking the country's leader captive, Trump promised to take control of Venezuela's oil industry with the help of America's biggest oil companies.

Venezuela's beleaguered oil industry could make a lot of money" with the might of the US behind it, Trump told the press, claiming that the new regime would invest billions to revive its fortunes.