In a surprising turn of events, US President Donald Trump has stated that American involvement in Venezuela could last for years to come. In an interview with The New York Times, Trump revealed that his administration would “oversee” the running of the South American nation, following the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a raid on Saturday.
The US president did not provide a clear timeline for when elections might be held in Venezuela to replace the interim government headed by Maduro loyalist Delcy Rodríguez. Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has expressed optimism, stating that Maduro’s ouster has set off an “irreversible process” that will lead Venezuela to “freedom”.
Trump’s comments come just days after the White House announced that the US would control the sales of sanctioned Venezuelan oil “indefinitely”. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright argued that this move was necessary to maintain leverage over the interim government in Caracas. The president acknowledged that it would “take a while” to get Venezuela’s oil industry back on track, as production has plummeted due to mismanagement and years of US sanctions.
Regarding the future leadership of Venezuela, Trump appeared dismissive of opposition figure María Corina Machado, stating that it would be “very tough for her to be the leader”. Instead, the US president indicated that his administration is in “constant communication” with Delcy Rodríguez, who was designated as Venezuela’s interim leader by the country’s Supreme Court, which is dominated by Maduro loyalists.
The US Senate has voted 52-47 to take up a resolution intended to block the Trump administration from conducting further military action in Venezuela, marking the first time during the second Trump administration that the Senate has voted to curb the president’s use of military power. However, the resolution remains largely symbolic, as it is unclear whether it will clear the House, and the president can still use his veto power to block it.
As the situation in Venezuela continues to unfold, the US appears poised to play a significant role in the country’s future, with the Trump administration determined to maintain control over Venezuela’s oil resources and shape the direction of the interim government.
