From the vault: Venezuela tightens oil grip

Venezuela's moves to seize oil fields from private companies more than a decade ago have particular relevance today. Here's a piece I wrote in 2005 for the Christian Science Monitor:

"Tense relations between private firms and Mr. Chávez's government escalated last week when the government seized fields operated by two European oil giants - France's Total and Italy's ENI - after the two companies snubbed government demands to convert their contracts to joint ventures with the state by April 1."

Read the entire story here:

Venezuela tightens oil grip