United States President Donald Trump has outlined the administration's long-term approach to Venezuela and its economic strategy following the reported capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. In recent statements, President Trump discussed the duration of US involvement, plans for Venezuela's oil resources, and diplomatic engagements with the interim government led by Delcy RodrĂguez, while also commenting on the nation's political landscape.
US Engagement and Oversight
President Trump indicated that the US's involvement in Venezuela could extend for an unspecified duration, stating that "only time will tell" how long his administration would "oversee" the South American nation. He suggested the engagement would be "much longer" than a few months and expressed intentions to "rebuild it in a very profitable way." The reported seizure of Nicolás Maduro by US forces occurred in a Saturday raid, with reports indicating Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were transported for trial on drug charges in New York.
Oil and Economic Strategy
The Trump administration has articulated plans to manage Venezuela's oil-rich economy. President Trump stated the US would control sales of sanctioned oil "indefinitely" and indicated that the US would be "taking oil" from the country, which possesses the world's largest proven reserves. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright noted that this control was intended to exert leverage over the interim government.
On a Tuesday following the reported capture, President Trump introduced a plan to process and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil, which had reportedly been held under a US blockade. He also mentioned lowering oil prices and providing financial assistance to Venezuela. Restoring the country's oil industry to full operational capacity, which has seen declines due to factors including mismanagement and US sanctions, is expected to "take a while." The interim government reportedly agreed to use proceeds from oil sales exclusively for US-made goods.
Interim Government and Diplomatic Relations
Delcy RodrĂguez, designated as Venezuela's interim leader by the country's Supreme Court—a body widely recognized as being dominated by Maduro loyalists—is leading the current government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly in "constant communication" with RodrĂguez. President Trump stated that RodrĂguez was "giving us everything that we feel is necessary."
President Trump did not respond to questions regarding his administration's official recognition of Ms. RodrĂguez as Venezuela's new leader. RodrĂguez has balanced condemning the reported "kidnapping" of Mr. Maduro with initiating cooperation with the US, amidst reports of further military action threats from President Trump. She asserted that no foreign power governs Caracas and described the US action to depose her predecessor as "a stain on our relations."
Political Landscape and Opposition
President Trump did not specify if or when new elections would be held in Venezuela to replace the interim government. The next scheduled presidential election, based on a six-year term, is in 2030.
Opposition leader MarĂa Corina Machado, who was barred from running in the 2024 presidential election, characterized the removal of Maduro as an "irreversible process." She had successfully unified opposition groups prior to the election and subsequently endorsed former diplomat Edmundo González as her proxy. While the electoral council, also dominated by government loyalists, declared Maduro re-elected, independent voting tallies indicated that González had won by a significant margin. Following the election, González went into exile, and Machado went into hiding within Venezuela. Machado later traveled to Oslo in December to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded for her work promoting democratic rights, and has stated her intention to return to Venezuela.
President Trump expressed reservations about Machado's leadership capabilities, stating she lacked the necessary "respect" and support to lead Venezuela, and remarked, "I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader." The Trump administration has reportedly not engaged with Machado.
Since January 3, government loyalists have conducted daily demonstrations in Caracas, advocating for the release of Nicolás Maduro. Protests reportedly began after US forces allegedly apprehended Mr. Maduro and his wife during a bombing raid on Caracas. Demonstrators reportedly chanted slogans such as "Nico, hold on, the people are rising!" and "Trump, give us back Nico!" during marches.