President Donald Trump revealed in an interview with the New York Times that the United States might maintain control over Venezuela and its oil revenue for an extended period. Trump expressed uncertainty about the exact duration but indicated that it could be much longer than initially anticipated. He emphasized plans to reconstruct Venezuela’s oil industry in a profitable manner, highlighting the intention to utilize and extract oil resources to support the country’s economic needs.
Following the recent deployment of troops to capture President Nicolás Maduro, Trump unveiled a strategy to process and market approximately 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil previously obstructed under U.S. sanctions. Trump noted positive relations with interim President Delcy Rodríguez’s administration, underscoring ongoing communication and collaboration with Venezuelan authorities.
The U.S. Senate advanced a resolution to limit Trump’s authority in initiating military actions against Venezuela without congressional approval, marking a rare opposition gesture against the President. Despite this progression, the resolution faces significant challenges before implementation, requiring approval from both the House of Representatives and the Senate by two-thirds majority to counter a potential veto by Trump.
Furthermore, plans are underway for oil industry executives to convene at the White House to discuss strategies for enhancing Venezuela’s oil production. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized the importance of controlling Venezuela’s oil sales to facilitate the nation’s economic recovery and enhance the oil sector. Discussions are set to involve major oil companies in contributing to the revitalization of Venezuela’s oil industry through advisory roles and potential future investments.