On his social media platform, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that “Interim Authorities” in Venezuela would sell 30 million to 50 million barrels of “High Quality” oil to the United States at market value.
Trump wrote, “I have asked Energy Secretary Chris Wright to execute this plan, immediately,” on Truth Social. “It will be taken by storage ships, and brought directly to unloading docks in the United States.”
Trump claimed that although he would be in charge of the funds as president, they would be utilized to help the people of the United States and Venezuela.
Separately, according to a person familiar with the situation who asked to remain anonymous in order to discuss the preparations, the White House is planning an Oval Office meeting with executives from oil companies on Friday addressing Venezuela. Exxon, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips representatives are anticipated to attend.
Although Venezuela has almost a fifth of the world’s oil reserves, analysts noted that a rapid increase in production would be hindered by a number of problems, such as its deteriorating infrastructure, low prices, and political unpredictability.
Delcy Rodriguez, the interim president of Venezuela, reaffirmed on Tuesday that no foreign force was in charge of her nation after Donald Trump declared that Washington will “run” it during a transition following the removal of her predecessor.
Rodriguez, who served as vice president under the overthrown leader Nicolas Maduro, has sent conflicting messages about her willingness to work with Trump, at times coming across as accommodative and at other times as belligerent.
Rodriguez declared, “The government of Venezuela is in charge in our country, and no-one else,” three days after Maduro and his wife were captured by US special forces in a spectacular assault in Caracas that was preceded by bombings.
Venezuela is not governed by a foreign agent.
Trump maintains that Washington is now “in charge” of the Caribbean nation, but he says he is willing to cooperate with Rodriguez as long as she accedes to his request for access to Venezuela’s enormous oil reserves.
Although Rodriguez has extended an olive branch, she also seemed eager to retain the support of the hardliners in charge of the paramilitaries and security forces that have been patrolling the streets since Maduro’s arrest.
“We are a people that does not surrender, we are a people that does not give up,” she said, honoring the “martyrs” of the US assaults.
Venezuela’s military released a list of 23 soldiers, including five generals, killed in the US strikes on Tuesday, marking the country’s first confirmation of losses.
A list of 32 dead Cuban military men, including two colonels and a lieutenant colonel—many of whom were part of Maduro’s security detail—was independently released by top ally Cuba.
The number of civilians killed during the operation in which US soldiers apprehended Maduro and Flores and transported them to the US for trial has not yet been acknowledged by Venezuela.
Attorney General Tarek William Saab mentioned “dozens” of military and civilian deaths on Tuesday, but he did not provide a breakdown.
