The president of the United States, Donald Trump, affirmed this Tuesday that the Government of Venezuela, headed provisionally by the president in charge Delcy Rodriguezis willing to deliver between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil that will be sold in the US market.
In a publication on his social network Truth Social, Trump described crude oil as “high-quality, licensed oil in the United States.”
Likewise, he assured that he himself will control the income derived from that sale to “guarantee that they are used for the benefit of the Venezuelan people and the United States.”
According to the Republican president, the plan will be executed immediately by the Department of Energy, led by Secretary Chris Wright, the agency said. EFE.
The millions of barrels, he specified, will be transported in storage vessels directly to the unloading docks in the United Statesalthough it did not offer a specific time frame for the operation.
The announcement comes after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, during a US military operation in Caracas and its surroundings that, according to available information, left more than fifty dead.
Access to crude oil and pressure on Caracas
Trump’s statements come just 24 hours after Delcy Rodríguez provisionally assumed power as interim president, following the operation to capture Maduro.
From the beginning, the Trump Administration recognized her as its interlocutor and He demanded “full access” to Venezuela’s oil and other strategic resources.
Trump: “We are going to control Venezuela until there is a safe and orderly transition”
Washington has also indicated that Rodríguez is “cooperating” with the US authorities, while the Venezuelan official has expressed her willingness to work on a joint agenda, while continuing to demand the return of Maduro.
What does Delcy Rodríguez say?
In an official event held this Tuesday, Rodríguez rejected that any external actor governs the countryalthough he did not directly refer to Trump’s notice.
“We are here governing alongside the people, the Government of Venezuela governs our country, no one else, there is no external agent that governs Venezuela,” he stated.
He added that he has “grown spiritually to face challenges, aggressions, threats” and He stressed that his destiny “is not decided but by God.”
Rodríguez was sworn into office following an order from the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice and faces the challenge of keeping the ranks of Chavismo united in a context of strong pressure from Washington.
Trump, for his part, has warned him that he could pay a price “higher than Maduro’s” if he does not comply with American demands.
US interest in Venezuelan oil
Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the worldalthough its production is far below its potential after years of sanctions and lack of investment, he said. EFE.
In this context, various US oil companies, such as Chevron and ExxonMobil, have shown interest in reactivating the Venezuelan industry under US control, considering the operation an opportunity to expand their businesses and ensure a supply of high-quality crude oil.
Days before his capture, Maduro himself had mentioned in an interview his Government’s willingness to allow investments by companies like Chevron in the country.
However, shortly after, the United States surprised with a military operation that culminated in his arrest based on accusations of drug trafficking, although various analysts have indicated that the true Washington’s objective is to seize the strategic Venezuelan oil. Without hiding it, Trump himself has confirmed it.
