EXHIBIT 5.1

                               September 9, 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 11,509,006 shares of
the Company's common stock by the selling securityholders named in the
Registration Statement, including

        o 10,526,506 shares that they may acquire upon conversion of, or in
          payment of accrued interest on, the Company's 6% secured convertible
          debentures due August 19, 2004,

        o 712,500 shares that they may acquire upon exercise of outstanding
          warrants

        o 270,000 shares previously acquired.

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 debentures, or in payment of accrued
                     interest on the convertible debentures, have been duly
                     authorized, and when issued upon conversion of the
                     convertible debentures, or in payment of accrued interest
                     on the convertible debentures, in accordance with the terms
                     of the convertible debentures, will be legally issued,
                     fully paid and non-assessable.

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

Our firm owns 321,818 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.