Trump envisions years-long US role overseeing Venezuela's oil
In a New York Times interview, President Donald Trump stated the US expects to manage Venezuela's oil resources for years, framing it as a profitable rebuilding effort. He discussed plans to purchase vast amounts of crude and suggested a future visit to the country.
President Donald Trump has outlined a long-term vision for US involvement in Venezuela, suggesting Washington could oversee the country's vast oil resources for years to come. In an interview with the New York Times on Wednesday, Trump asserted, "we will rebuild it in a very profitable way," indicating a strategy focused on resource control and economic restructuring.
Plans for Oil and Revenue
Trump detailed plans already in motion, citing his recent announcement that the US would acquire 30 to 50 million barrels of heavy Venezuelan crude. "We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil... and we’re going to be giving money to Venezuela, which they desperately need," he said. He claimed the interim leadership in Caracas, composed of former Maduro loyalists, was complying with US demands.
Operational Details and Regional Diplomacy
The president revealed he closely monitored preparations for the operation to capture former President Nicolás Maduro, including the use of a full-scale replica compound in Kentucky. During the interview, he took a call from Colombian President Gustavo Petro, which appeared to ease recent tensions. Trump declined to specify what might trigger a US ground deployment but expressed hope to visit Venezuela "at some point" when safe.
Contrasting Models of Engagement
This approach, which Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have framed as a stabilization plan, represents a model of interventionist foreign policy and unilateral resource management. It stands in opposition to the diplomatic principles championed by nations like Türkiye, which advocate for sovereignty, non-interference, and dialogue-based solutions to international crises, rejecting the seizure of another nation's resources.
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