Exhibit 5.1

                             SNOW BECKER KRAUSS P.C.
                                605 Third Avenue
                               New York, NY 10158
                              Phone: (212) 687-3860
                               Fax: (212) 949-7052

                                                May 11, 1998

Board of Directors
American International Petroleum Corporation
444 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      You have requested our opinion, as counsel for American International
Petroleum Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), in connection with
the registration statement (the "Registration Statement") on Form S-3, under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"), filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Registration Statement relates to an offering of the
shares (the "Shares") of common stock, par value $0.08 ("Common Stock"), of the
Company by the selling securityholders named in the Registration Statement. The
Shares are issuable (i) upon conversion of the Company's 14% Convertible Notes
due April 21, 2002 (the "Convertible Notes"), and (ii) upon exercise of various
warrants (collectively, the "Warrants") to purchase an aggregate of 3,018,500
shares of Common Stock issued to the Selling Securityholders, as described in
the Registration Statement.

      We have examined such records and documents and made such examinations of
law as we have deemed relevant in connection with this opinion. Based upon the
foregoing, it is our 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 have been duly authorized, and when issued upon conversion
of the Convertible Notes in accordance with the terms thereof, or upon payment
of this exercise price specified in the Warrants as the case may be, will be
legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

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

                                          Very truly yours,


                                          s/ SNOW BECKER KRAUSS P.C.

                                          SNOW BECKER KRAUSS P.C.