Lavrov Denounces American Energy Hegemony Following Strategic Oil Industry Seizure in Venezuela and Iranian Maritime Threats

Russian FM Sergey Lavrov claims the US uses military force in Venezuela and Iran to seize control of global oil markets and the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 27, 2026, 5:06 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Anadolu Agency

The Kremlin’s Assessment of American Resource Ambitions

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a sharp critique of United States foreign policy during an interview with France Televisions on Thursday, asserting that Washington is pursuing an aggressive agenda of global energy dominance. Lavrov pointed to a series of official documents and public statements from the Trump administration as evidence of a calculated effort to secure supremacy over international hydrocarbon markets. According to the Russian diplomat, the current geopolitical instability is not merely a byproduct of political disputes but a deliberate tool used by the United States to dismantle sovereign control over natural resources. He argued that the international community is witnessing a systematic shift where energy security is being traded for American corporate and strategic interests.

Venezuela as a Blueprint for Modern Resource Seizure

Lavrov highlighted the recent events in Venezuela as a primary example of what he described as a "resource grab" disguised as a humanitarian or legal intervention. He noted that while the United States initially framed its military actions and the capture of Nicolás Maduro as a mission to remove a drug-trafficking regime, the ultimate outcome was the American takeover of the Venezuelan oil industry. By installing a compliant transition government and securing key infrastructure, the Russian Foreign Minister contended that Washington has effectively neutralized a major global competitor. This pattern, he warned, serves as a blueprint for future interventions where political regime change is used as a precursor to the direct control of national energy assets.

The Strategic Maneuvering for the Strait of Hormuz

Turning his attention to the Middle East, Lavrov suggested that a similar dynamic is currently unfolding with Iran. He referenced public comments made by President Donald Trump regarding the necessity of controlling the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which a significant portion of the world's liquefied natural gas and crude oil passes. Lavrov argued that the American interest in "managing" this strategic passage alongside a restructured Iranian state is a transparent attempt to dictate the flow and pricing of global energy. The Russian perspective maintains that the ongoing war is being leveraged to place the world’s most critical ma...