Trump has stated that he views Venezuela as a potential 51st state of the US
US President Donald Trump stated in a telephone interview with Fox News that he is interested in Venezuela because its oil reserves are estimated to be worth $40 trillion. According to him, he also enjoys support among the country’s citizens.
“Venezuela loves Trump,” Trump said.
After the US military detained Nicolás Maduro in January – whom the US Department of Justice had previously accused of narco-terrorism – Trump stated that the United States would “lead” the country during a transitional period alongside Venezuela’s Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez.
In January, Trump also announced his intention to resume US oil operations in Venezuela. Major energy companies, including Exxon and Conoco, left the country almost 20 years ago following the nationalisation of the oil industry under Hugo Chávez. Since then, Chevron has remained the only major US oil company with investments in Venezuela.
Over recent months, representatives of the Trump administration and White House energy advisers have held meetings with the heads of major oil companies and urged them to invest in Venezuela.
In April, oil exports from Venezuela exceeded 1 million barrels per day. This is the highest figure since 2018.
The White House stated that relations between Venezuela and the US have become “exceptional”.
“Oil is starting to flow, and large sums of money, the likes of which haven’t been seen for many years, will soon help the great people of Venezuela,” a White House representative told Fox News Digital.
At the same time, the White House did not specify what exactly Trump’s plan to incorporate Venezuela into the US might look like.
In March, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, suggesting the possibility of granting Venezuela the status of a US state.
“Good things have been happening with Venezuela lately! I wonder what the magic is? State No. 51, anyone?” Trump wrote.
For Venezuela to join the US and be granted statehood, approval from the US Congress and consent from Venezuela itself would be required. Delcy Rodríguez stated that this would never happen.
“This would never be considered, because if there is one thing Venezuelans have, it is a love for our independence, our heroes and heroines of independence,” Rodríguez told reporters.
Trump had previously raised the possibility of Greenland, Canada, Cuba and Panama joining the US.
