Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jan 8: US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington plans to maintain a prolonged and open-ended role in Venezuela, including managing and extracting oil from the country’s vast reserves, following the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
In an interview with The New York Times, Trump suggested that American oversight of Venezuela would extend well beyond the short term. While declining to specify an end date, he said US involvement would last far longer than a matter of months. Trump portrayed the strategy as both a rebuilding effort and a profitable venture, emphasising that Venezuelan oil would play a central role. “We’re going to rebuild it in a very profitable way,” he said, adding that the United States would be “using oil” and “taking oil” as part of the process.
According to Trump, Washington intends to control the sale of Venezuelan oil for the foreseeable future, arguing that such measures are essential to stabilising the country and easing global energy prices. He said lower oil prices would benefit international markets while revenues would be channelled back to Venezuela, which he described as being in desperate financial need.
His remarks followed briefings to Congress by administration officials outlining a three-stage plan, presented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, under which the US would effectively take charge of Venezuela’s oil exports. While Republican lawmakers have broadly supported the plan, Democrats have raised concerns that it could evolve into a prolonged intervention lacking a clear legal framework.
Trump avoided committing to a timeline for elections in Venezuela and sidestepped questions about Washington’s decision to recognise Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim leader rather than endorsing opposition figures. He said Rubio maintains frequent contact with her and noted that US officials are in continuous communication with those currently in power.
The president also acknowledged that reviving Venezuela’s deteriorated oil industry would be a lengthy process, saying it would take years before production fully recovers. When asked about the circumstances under which US ground forces might be deployed, Trump declined to elaborate.
Despite public criticism from Venezuelan officials, Trump insisted the current leadership is cooperating behind the scenes. “They’re giving us everything that we feel is necessary,” he said.
Overall, Trump’s comments highlight his emphasis on the military operation that led to Maduro’s capture, even as debate grows in Washington over how long the United States will remain involved in Venezuela, how much it will cost, and what consequences it may bring.