CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela had a blunt message this week for Exxon Mobil, one of the world’s most powerful oil companies: Get off my crude-rich turf.

Venezuela is tightening its squeeze on the oil industry, telling oil companies to give the state a greater share of profits — or get out.


Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez on Wednesday said Exxon Mobil Corp. was one of the companies that would “prefer to leave ... rather than adjust” to recent policy changes.

“We said we don’t want them to be here then,” Ramirez told the state TV broadcaster adding, if “we need them, we’ll call them.”

Exxon Mobil indicated Thursday it had no plans to pull out.