CNBC's Brian Sullivan joins 'Squawk Box' to report on the latest news regarding energy executives meeting at the White House on Friday (Jan. 9).

Washington

Executives from major oil and gas companies, including Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips, and others, are meeting with President Trump at the White House to discuss the possibility of resuming operations in Venezuela. The meeting follows statements from President Trump suggesting that up to $100 billion could be invested by these companies if conditions allow.

Despite these claims, industry sources indicate that there are currently no concrete plans for U.S. companies to return to Venezuela, citing low oil prices and security concerns as major obstacles. The situation is further complicated by ongoing global market dynamics, including unrest in Iran, which could influence future decisions regarding Venezuelan oil investments.

Energy executives set to meet at White House

The capital of the energy world is in Washington DC today President Trump is scheduled to meet with CEOs and executives from oil and gas companies at the White House Those discussions will focus on what it might take for them to explore going into Venezuela Or in the case of Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips going back into the country Let's bring in Brian Sullivan who's in Washington right now to talk about what to expect and Brian. Good morning Good morning, Becky. Yeah, there's a lot on the table here the meeting expected to begin around 2 p.m. Eastern time We're gonna be heading to the White House soon. We will be there. The full guest list is not exactly sussed out I would we know that Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods, who you know, Becky will be there We know that the CEO of ConocoPhillips Ryan Lance will be there Chevron Sending an executive their CEO recovering from I think knee surgery You've got Harold Hamm of Continental Resources going and then there's some executives from Shell from any from Repsol that are likely to Attend along with some others won't probably know the full guest list until we actually see the executives walk in that door All right. So what is on the table and what is on the line? Well last night in a true social post President Trump saying that the second wave of Attacks on Venezuela would be canceled because Venezuela is effectively cooperating. Although you notice just under that highlight President Trump writing quote at least 100 billion dollars will be invested by big oil All of whom I am meeting with today at the White House. Thank you for your attention to this matter 100 billion dollars in investments possible in Venezuela I want to be clear I have personally spoken with and talked to and texted with every major oil and gas company that would go down To Venezuela, there are no plans right now for any companies to be going down directly There are some companies that of course are going to look at it as you noted Becky Exxon Mobil ConocoPhillips They were in Venezuela until 2007 when they tried to get into a I'll call it a negotiation an argument We then dictator president Hugo Chavez ConocoPhillips and Exxon left slash were expelled and they are owed billions of dollars from the Venezuelan government I'm not exactly sure where that 100 billion dollar figure comes from and to put that into perspective That would be over three times Exxon Mobil's annual entire capital Spending so hopefully more answers will be given at the meeting today and we will be out at the White House later Hey Brian, we've raised the question of whether this meeting today is basically the president making these companies an offer They can't refuse. It reminds me a little bit of when Hank Paulson called in all the banks and said hey, you're all taking a piece of this During the financial crisis last time around, too Yes, it's it's it's a good analogy metaphor I can never remember which one is which I would say though at that time the banks largely most of them Needed the money I think the big variable here Becky is that with oil at 57 56 bucks and possibly Going lower because there is more oil supply than oil demand Many of the oil and gas companies that I've spoken with this week have said listen. We just don't There's not really an economic reason to go if oil was a $100 a barrel if there were shortages of oil in the United States We might be able to make the argument a little bit easier that we would want to go down to Venezuela spend billions of dollars Potentially put employees in rough positions because security guarantees for the safety of the employees are going to be jobs number one two and three everything flows after that so at 58 bucks a Barrel is the oil needed the one thing I would add and this is a little bit off topic, but not really Becky I'm sure we've seen some of the images and videos coming out of Iran Now the Iranian protests whatever the actual stance. We don't really know because it's Iran They've shut down the internet reportedly Western media not a big part of the you know Iranian story If these protests pro-democracy pro-human protests succeed, there's some video Then there is one oil company in Iran NIOC National Iranian Oil Corporation It's a state enterprise if there is some disruption in that flow because hey Maybe the NIOC employees want to join into the protests they can get their country back 3.2 million barrels per day if there is a disruption there that might change some of the math and the Investment calculus and the supply-demand calculus on Venezuelan oil a little bit of a sideways story But certainly related to just a market that is truly global in nature Excellent point oil up this morning by about 1% 58 30 for WTI Brian will be watching through the day and eager to hear more about what you learn. Thank you

Iran's army is threatening to join the crackdown on protesters as demonstrations against the regime grow and the death toll mounts. Huge crowds have taken to the streets across the Islamic Republic. Iran's Revolutionary Guard calls them "terrorists." Haley Ott has more details.

Tehran

Iran's army threatens to join crackdown against protesters

President Trump said, "We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not," earlier this week. But Greenland, a territory of Denmark and a NATO ally, is rejecting the threats.

Nuuk

Greenland rejects Trump's threats

Trump, who often cites national security interests as the reason for taking Greenland, said that if the US does not do something, 'Russia or China will take over Greenland'.

Trump says U.S will act on Greenland, 'whether they like it or not'

Protests across the U.S., including in Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Miami, are taking place following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Police declared the demonstrations in downtown Minneapolis an 'unlawful assembly'.

Philadelphia

Protests spread across the U.S. over ICE shooting of woman

Internet and phone lines in Iran have been cut off as anti-government protests enter their second week. Reports say at least 65 people have been killed and more than 2,300 others detained. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of a possible U.S. response to the government crackdown.

Internet blackout in Iran enters second day as protests intensify

Rescue workers are trying to find dozens of people trapped under a collapsed landfill in the Philippines. At least four people have been confirmed dead. The incident took place on Thursday, with more than 100 workers on site at the time.

Cebu City

Philippines: Dozens still missing in landfill collapse

BRICS nations have launched joint naval exercises off the South African coast. Supporters say the drills will strengthen co-operation among emerging economies.  But critics warn they could deepen global divisions.

Simon's Town

South Africa hosts Russia, Iran and China for military exercise

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned on Saturday that safeguarding security was a "red line" and the military vowed to protect public property, as the clerical establishment stepped up efforts to quell the most widespread protests in years.

Iran authorities signal intensified crackdown as unrest grows

Luigi Mangione was back in court on Friday, where his lawyers worked to block the Justice Department from seeking the death penalty in his federal trial for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione pleaded not guilty in April 2025.

New York

Luigi Mangione's lawyers fight to block death penalty

Fire crews battle spreading blazes while communities face evacuations and power cuts.

Victoria

Thousands of firefighters deployed to fight bushfires in Australia

The protest comes amid wider rallies against US immigration enforcement and over the fatal shooting of the 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good.

Minneapolis

Several arrested in Minneapolis during anti-ICE protest

Trump says U.S. will act on Greenland, 'whether they like it or not'

U.S. President Donald Trump began a meeting to discuss Venezuela with executives from some of the world's largest oil companies at the White House, saying he wants them to invest $100 billion in the country to vastly expand its production.

Venezuela Strikes

Trump urges U.S. oil giants to repair Venezuela's energy industry

The U.S. seized another oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the Caribbean, U.S. Southern Command confirmed on Friday (January 9). The seizure of the vessel comes as President Donald Trump prepares to meet with oil company executives at the White House.

U.S. seizes fifth tanker linked to Venezuela

U.S. President Donald Trump is reiterating his threats against Iran's regime if violence and deaths continue during protests. CBS News' Imtiaz Tyab has more.

Trump: U.S. to hit Iran 'very hard' if violence continues at protests

Russia fired a powerful hypersonic missile overnight at a target in Ukraine near the border with NATO-member Poland, in what Kyiv's European allies described as an attempt to intimidate them from supporting Ukraine.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia fires hypersonic missile at Ukraine target near NATO border

A majority of European Union countries have agreed to sign a trade deal with the South American trading bloc, Mercosur. It'll be the EU's biggest free-trade pact and comes after decades of negotiations.

Brussels

EU approves Mercosur trade deal despite protests

The Trump administration is pulling the U.S. out of dozens of international organizations, including key UN agencies and the treaty underpinning global climate talks, marking a deepening retreat from multilateral cooperation.

Trump admin. withdraws from dozens of international organizations

The brother of Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, and head of the country’s national assembly has announced the release of a wide raft of political prisoners. It's being viewed as a gesture to seek peace less than a week after the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces.

Cúcuta

Venezuela releases political prisoners

Residents in Portland, Oregon, protested Thursday after officials say two people were shot by Border Patrol agents. Gwen Baumgardner has more on how the shooting unfolded.

Portland

Two shot by border patrol agents in Portland

Russia launched a massive attack in Ukraine using drones and missiles, including a nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile. Michael Bociurkiw, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, joins CBS News with more.

Odesa

Russia strikes Ukraine with hypersonic missile

Four crew members aboard the International Space Station will be brought home more than a month early in the coming days as NASA cuts its mission short due to health concerns.

NASA cutting current International Space Station mission short

Iran's supreme leader has condemned anti-government protests, denouncing demonstrators as vandals and saboteurs. Iran has shut down the internet and cut off international calls and is promising decisive punishment.

Iran's Supreme Leader defiant as protests grow

The U.S. Senate advanced a resolution that would bar President Donald Trump from further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, a rare rebuke of the Republican leader.

U.S. Senate advances measure curbing Trump's Venezuela war powers

U.S. officials have discussed sending lump sum payments to Greenlanders as part of a bid to convince them to secede from Denmark and potentially join the United States, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

Trump administration mulls paying Greenlanders to join U.S.

Iran’s connectivity drops sharply nationwide – As authorities tighten controls amid growing protests over the economy. NetBlocks says the apparent blackout follows ‘a series of escalating digital censorship measures targeting protests’.

Iran experiencing nationwide internet blackout as protests intensify

The Senate on Thursday voted to advance a resolution that could limit President Trump's ability to continue military action in Venezuela without congressional approval. It comes as the president told the New York Times that he could see the U.S. having direct oversight of Venezuela for years.

Caracas

Trump says U.S. could have direct oversight in Venezuela for years

The crew at the International Space Station will return home early because of what NASA is calling a medical concern with a crew member. CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood has more details.

Texas

ISS crew returning due to medical issue for first time in NASA history

President Trump plans to meet with Colombian President Gustavo Petro after Mr. Trump issued threats following the U.S. operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro. CBS News' Lilia Luciano reports from Bogotá.

Trump to meet Colombia’s Petro after tensions over Venezuela operation

The United Kingdom aided the U.S. in an operation to seize a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the North Atlantic. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports.

Breakdown