EXHIBIT 5.1

                                              March 8, 1999


American International Petroleum Corporation
444 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022

Gentlemen:

We are counsel to American International Petroleum Corporation, a Nevada
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the filing by the Company with
the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"), of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") relating to the offer and sale of 6,750,978 shares of
the Company's common stock by the selling securityholders named in the 
Registration Statement, including

        o 4,505,000 shares that they acquired or may acquire upon conversion of
          the Company's convertible notes due April 21, 2000 or in payment of
          accrued interest on the convertible notes

        o 1,795,978 shares that they may acquire upon exercise of outstanding
          warrants

        o 325,000 shares that they may acquire upon exercise of outstanding
          options

        o 125,000 shares issued for consulting services 
 
We have examined such corporate documents and records and other certificates,
and we have made such investigations of law as we have deemed necessary or
appropriate in order to render the opinions hereinafter set forth. Based on the
foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

                  1. The Company has been duly organized, is validly existing
                     and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada.

                  2. The shares of common stock to be issued upon conversion of
                     the convertible notes or in payment of accrued interest on
                     the convertible notes, have been duly authorized, and when
                     duly issued upon conversion of the convertible notes in 
                     accordance with the terms thereof or in payment of accrued
                     interest on the convertible notes, will be legally issued,
                     fully paid and non-assessable.

                  3. The shares of common stock to be issued upon the exercise
                     of the options and warrants have been duly authorized, and
                     when duly issued in accordance with the terms thereof, 
                     will be  legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

                  4. The shares of common stock issued for consulting services
                     have been duly authorized, validly issued, and are fully
                     paid and non-assessable.

Our firm owns 147,000 shares of Common Stock, and an investment nominee of our
firm owns 225,905 shares of Common Stock.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference in the Registration Statement to
this firm under the heading "Legal Matters." In giving this consent, we do not
hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                                  Very truly yours,

                                                  /s/ Snow Becker Krauss P.C.
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                  SNOW BECKER KRAUSS P.C.