US President Donald Trump has said Venezuela has agreed to hand over between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a US-led military operation.
In a post on social media on Wednesday, Mr Trump said the oil would be sold at market price, with the proceeds controlled by the US government and used for the benefit of both Venezuela and the United States.
“I am pleased to announce that the interim authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 million barrels of high-quality, sanctioned oil to the United States of America,” he wrote.
“This oil will be sold at its market price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States.”
The announcement comes days after US elite forces carried out a surprise operation in Caracas on 3 January, seizing Mr Maduro and his wife. The pair are currently facing trial in New York. The raid, which involved air and naval support, has drawn strong international reactions.
Following Mr Maduro’s capture, Mr Trump said the United States would take charge of Venezuela’s administration and oversee its vast oil reserves, the largest proven reserves in the world.
On Tuesday, Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s former vice-president, was sworn in as interim president.
Mr Trump warned Ms Rodríguez that she could face severe consequences if she failed to cooperate with Washington. “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” he said in an interview with The Atlantic.
However, Ms Rodríguez struck a more conciliatory tone at her first cabinet meeting, signalling a willingness to work with the United States.
“We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law,” she said.
Mr Trump has defended the US actions, saying that regime change in Venezuela was necessary and describing the situation under Mr Maduro as irredeemable.
“Regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now,” he said. “It can’t get any worse.”