Trump: Venezuela under U.S. control until stability restored

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday (4 January) that the United States could carry out further military action in Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said Washington now effectively controls the country.

President Trump warned that remaining members of Venezuela’s leadership must cooperate with Washington, saying, “We are ready to stage a second and much larger attack if we need to do so.”

He said the United States would work with figures still in power to reshape the country’s institutions rather than immediately install a new government.

According to President Trump, elections in Venezuela would only be held once stability had been restored, with the United States determining the timing and conditions.

He defended the military operation that led to Maduro’s detention as necessary and justified, describing Venezuela as a “narco-terror state” and accusing its leadership of facilitating drug trafficking and mass migration to the United States.

Maduro, 63, was flown to New York and placed in a federal detention centre, where he is due to appear in court on Monday on drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges first filed by U.S. prosecutors in 2020, U.S. officials said.

Additionally, Trump said U.S. oil companies would invest billions of dollars to rebuild Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, arguing that American involvement was essential to revive what he described as a “dead country”.

He also claimed the United States had the right to make use of Venezuela’s oil resources as part of the reconstruction process.

Reportedly, the Trump administration had already been in contact with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.

President Trump said, she was warned that “if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.”

• U.S. captures Maduro, Trump vows temporary control of Venezuela

Other regional and foreign policy remarks

• Trump suggested Colombia could face U.S. military action if it failed to curb drug trafficking, saying an “Operation Colombia” sounded appealing.
• He said Mexico was controlled by drug cartels and claimed he had previously offered to send U.S. troops to help restore order.
• He invoked the Monroe Doctrine, calling it the “Donroe Doctrine”, to justify U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere.

Additional comments

• Trump warned Iran against violent crackdowns on protesters, saying the U.S. would respond harshly if killings resumed.
• He said he did not believe claims that Ukraine had attacked the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• He mentioned good relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping and plans to visit China later this year.

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News Politics Trump Venezuela Nicolas Maduro Washington