The US president announced plan to acquire and sell between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela. Venezuela’s acting leader Delcy Rodriguez said her government, not a “foreign agent,” controls the country.
Venezuela to release 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to US, Trump claims
US President Donald Trump has announced that “interim authorities in Venezuela will be turning over” between 30 to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the US.
“This oil will be sold at its market price, and that money will be controlled by me, as president of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!” Trump wrote in a social media post.
He did not provide further details about the plan. Venezuelan officials did not immediately comment on the announcement.
Trump said the US plans to take control of Venezuela’s oil industry and have US oil companies revitalize it, although experts say it will take major investment to restore the country’s energy infrastructure.
Venezuela’s acting leader announces week of mourning for those killed in US raid
Venezuela’s new acting leader Delcy Rodriguez has announced a week of mourning for soldiers killed in the US attack that captured Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
“I have decided to decree seven days of mourning to the honor and glory of the young people, women and men who gave up their lives defending Venezuela and president Nicolas Maduro,” Rodriguez said in a TV address.
Venezuela’s military said at least 24 officers were killed during the raid. Another 32 Cuban soldiers were also killed, the Cuban government said.
Venezuela’s president Delcy Rodriguez said on Tuesday that no foreign power was governing her country.
“The government of Venezuela is in charge in our country, and no one else. There is no foreign agent governing Venezuela”, she said in a televised address.
She added: “Personally, to those who threaten me … my destiny is not determined by them, but by God.”
US President Donald Trump previously told NBC News on Sunday that the US was “in charge” of Venezuela after US forces kidnapped Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a daring raid Saturday.
Trump warned Rodriguez she would fare “probably worse” than Maduro if she didn’t cooperate. Trump said Saturday in a new conference after Maduro’s capture that the US would “run” Venezuela with the support of top US officials.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later tried to walk back that declaration, saying the US would not take a day-to-day role in governing Venezuela but would instead exert pressure on its new government by controlling its export of oil.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/venezuela-trump-touts-plan-to-get-up-to-50m-barrels-of-oil/live-75401237
