Venezuela: Operational Snapshot

Sparrowhawk Security | February 2, 2026

Executive Summary

Despite recent regulatory and legislative developments from the U.S. and Venezuelan governments granting private American entities increased autonomy to commercialize output of Venezuelan-origin oil, operational risk and continuity in Venezuela remain threatened by political instability, localized violence, extortion, kidnapping, and a functionally nationalized private security industry. Physical entry of equipment and personnel into the country remains constrained by visa authority, state sponsorship, and customs enforcement.

Sparrowhawk Security is actively developing risk management and operational logistics procedures to assist energy industry participants in evaluating the tremendous opportunity presented by the Venezuelan market.

Regulatory Reality

Key Risk Factors

General Security Considerations

Venezuela is an unstable environment plagued by organized crime and political instability. However, anti-U.S. sentiment has decreased since 2019, and the Venezuelan government has shown willingness to cooperate with U.S. public and private entities since the capture of Maduro. While the risk of violent crime and extortion remains elevated, proper coordination and planning can reduce it to a manageable level.

Urban hubs: Organized crime, police corruption, and malignant vendors are prevalent in Venezuelan urban hubs. Traveling in groups and maintaining a low profile are effective deterrents to crimes of opportunity. Detailed itineraries and secure, reliable communications should be available at all times.

Rural Environments: Expect infrastructure and communications to be degraded. Stockpiling of essential life-support resources will reduce the dependency on local goods and services. Equipment, logistics, and communication assets should be tailored to the environment, and contingency branch plans should be robust.

Travel Considerations

Immigration: It is likely that the visa and immigration process will evolve parallel to general business license reform. Currently, the timeline and reliability for obtaining a business visa is unrealistic to support operations from parties not currently in Venezuela. However, as cooperation between the U.S. and Venezuela improves, there will be more Venezuelan companies willing to sponsor transient business visas. Pre-deployment site visits, and in-country reception teams can deconflict entry and reduce friction upon arrival.

In-country: Public transportation and taxi service is unsafe in Venezuela. Parties needing freedom of movement throughout the country must have pre-determined travel plans including vehicles, vetted drivers, detailed route planning, medical evacuation, and contingencies. Crime is rampant in Venezuela. Gangs and other criminal organizations operate freely with limited repercussions, often manning false police checkpoints, interfering with overland border crossings, and emplacing obstacles to disrupt travel. Air travel is unreliable and highly discouraged at night, as criminal organizations have been known to impersonate airport security. Of note, American Airlines recently announced plans resume daily service to Venezuela and will provide more details in the coming months.

Departure: Exit dominance and reliable evacuation plans must be developed and updated often. OFAC General License 46 authorizes “(a) shipping and logistics services, including chartering vessels…”. Pre-coordination and acquisition of reliable means of departure must be controlled by the interested party and unaffected by political instability or malignant actors.

Logistical Control and Contingency

U.S. firms and personnel operating inside Venezuela must have operational control of logistics, exit strategy, and contingency planning. If executed properly, these domains should not be influenced by local crime, political instability, or infrastructure degradation. Control of these domains can be achieved by stockpiling, relationships with vetted vendors, third-country national support, established mission authority, and maintaining copies of relevant documents and licenses.

Logistical Control

Exit Strategy

Contingency Planning

Closing Perspective

Although Venezuela remains a high-risk operating environment, recent legislation and OFAC licensure has created opportunities for foreign investment and exploration. While Venezuelan re-entry from American investors and operating companies is expected to be a long process; state sponsored entry of technical teams and forward deployed engineers is a realistic first step. Any American presence in Venezuela should be planned in detail and contingent upon reducing on-the-ground risk to an acceptable level.