The Donald Trump administration has announced plans to control sales of Venezuela’s oil “indefinitely,” as it demands Venezuela’s government cut ties with U.S. adversaries, including Cuba, China, Iran and Russia.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the U.S. would continue to “dictate” policy to Venezuela’s interim leaders, after the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro in a bloody U.S. military raid on Caracas early Saturday morning.
“The president is fully deploying his ‘peace through strength’ foreign policy agenda, so we’re continuing to be in close coordination with the interim authorities. And their decisions are going to continue to be dictated by the United States of America.”
On Wednesday, U.S. forces seized two tankers linked to Venezuelan oil exports — one in the Caribbean; the other, a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic that the U.S. had pursued for weeks.
In response, Russia accused the U.S. of violating maritime law, calling for the release of the ship’s crew. Their capture came as Vice President JD Vance reiterated that the Trump administration would have complete control of Venezuela’s oil reserves.
In Caracas, interim President Delcy Rodríguez defended plans to cede control of Venezuela’s oil to the U.S.
“Venezuela is open to energy relations where all parties benefit, where economic cooperation is very well determined in commercial contracts.”
On Wednesday, President Trump told The New York Times he expects the United States will be running Venezuela for years to come.
[ SOURCE: DEMOCRACY NOW ]
