Trump says US control over Venezuela could last for years
Asked how long Washington plans to exercise de facto control over the South American state, Trump said there is no clear timeline. &Only time will tell, - he said, adding that it is a much longer period than a few months or even a year. He said this in an interview with The New York Times, which took place on Wednesday in the Oval Office.
According to the US President, the United States expects to be present in Venezuela for years and intends to use its significant oil resources. Trump said that Washington has already begun to profit from Venezuelan oil, which was previously under sanctions, in particular, 30-50 million barrels of heavy crude oil. At the same time, he acknowledged that it will take a long time to restore the country's neglected oil sector.
The President also stressed that the interim government of Venezuela, formed from former associates of the imprisoned Nicolas Maduro, is cooperating with the United States. According to him, the current administration of the country «provides everything that the United States considers necessary».
Trump's comments came amid statements by his administration about the US intention to effectively take control of Venezuelan oil sales indefinitely. These plans are part of a three-step strategy that Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously presented to members of Congress.
At the same time, Democrats in Congress have expressed concern that the US could be drawn into prolonged international intervention without a clearly defined legal basis. Trump himself, speaking to journalists, did not specify under what conditions he could decide to send US troops directly into Venezuela.
The US president also did not give an answer as to when elections might be held in Venezuela, noting only that the country needs to stabilise after years of political and economic crisis. He refrained from commenting on the reasons for recognising former Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as the new leader of Venezuela instead of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, whose political force won the 2024 elections.
In addition, during the interview, Trump said that he considers the operation to capture Nicolas Maduro a success and one that, in his opinion, sent a signal to other leaders in the region. He emphasised that the current government in Venezuela demonstrates a willingness to cooperate with Washington.
The president also did not rule out the possibility of visiting Venezuela in the future, noting that the situation in the country may eventually become safe for such a visit.
Photo: The New York Times
