Trump says US will run Venezuela during transition

Washington, Jan 4 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said the United States will temporarily run Venezuela following the arrest of Nicolas Maduro, arguing that Washington must oversee a transition to prevent instability and rebuild the country’s oil infrastructure.

Asked directly who would govern Venezuela, Trump said, “We’re going to be running it with a group,” adding that US officials were already being designated to manage the process.

Trump said the United States would remain in charge “until such time as a safe, proper, and judicious transition can take place,” warning that a premature exit would risk repeating past failures. “If we just left, it has zero chance of ever coming back,” he told reporters at a Mar-a-Lago news conference.

The president placed particular emphasis on Venezuela’s oil sector, describing it as central to both recovery and stability. “The oil business in Venezuela has been a bust,” Trump said, adding that major US oil companies would invest billions to repair infrastructure.

“We’re going to rebuild the oil infrastructure,” he said. “It’ll be paid for by the oil companies directly.”

Trump said the United States would maintain a continued presence tied to energy operations. “We’re going to have a presence in Venezuela as it pertains to oil,” he said, adding that wealth generated would go to Venezuelans and reimburse the United States.

Asked whether US troops would be deployed, Trump said, “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” noting that American personnel were already involved during the operation.

He said the administration would not allow figures linked to the Maduro regime to retain power. “We know who they are. We’re on them,” Trump said.

Trump also addressed questions about working with Venezuela’s current vice president, saying Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken with her. “She’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary,” Trump said.

Defending the move as consistent with his “America First” doctrine, Trump said, “We want to surround ourselves with good neighbors,” adding that Venezuela’s energy resources were vital to global stability.

On foreign involvement, Trump said the United States would sell oil internationally. “We’re in the oil business,” he said. “We’ll be selling large amounts of oil to other countries.”

Trump rejected concerns about long-term administration, insisting it would not cost US taxpayers. “It won’t cost us anything,” he said, citing oil revenues.

The United States has long imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector, while accusing its leadership of corruption and mismanagement that contributed to economic collapse and mass migration.

int/rs