Trump: US will run Venezuela and assume control over its oil

On January 3rd the United States launched a series of airstrikes on Venezuela resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Codenamed Absolute Resolve, the operation targeted areas in the north of the country and around the capital Caracas.

Following the US attack on Venezuela and the seizure of its oil reserves, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is being held in a detention center in New York where he will face trial for drug trafficking. In the meantime, the Venezuelan Supreme Court has ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the presidency, who immediately called for Maduro’s release: "We demand the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Nicolás Maduro is the only legitimate president of Venezuela."

However, US President Donald Trump appears to have other plans, announcing a complete take-over of the country: "So, we are going to run the country, until such time as we can do a safe proper and judicious transition. And it has to be judicious, because that's what we're all about."

He also said that the cost of the US attack would be covered by Venezuelan oil reserves: We're going to take back the oil that frankly, we should have taken back a long time ago. A lot of money is coming out of the ground, we're going to get reimbursed for all of that, and we're going to get reimbursed for everything that we spend."

The US attack on Venezuela has left the international community in shock. While many consider Maduro a dictator and an illegitimate president, they dispute the legitimacy of the US military action, citing the UN Charter. The Security Council is set to discuss the US attack at an emergency session on Monday. Chilean President Gabriel Boric, who is of Croatian descent and has been a longtime critic of Maduro's, sees the US move as illegitimate: "Today it is Venezuela, tomorrow it could be anyone else. The threat of unilateral external control over its natural or strategic resources is a serious violation of the principle of territorial integrity and a threat to the security, sovereignty and stability of all states in the region."

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noel Barrot, also questioned the legitimacy of the US operation: "Nicolas Maduro was an open dictator who robbed the Venezuelans of their freedom when he stole the elections. That's why his departure is good news for Venezuelans. However, the way it was handled is a violation of the principles of international law."

For his part the Minister for Intergovernmental Relations of the United Kingdom, Darren Jones, opted to avoid taking either side of the issue: "It is for international courts to make judgments on international law. It is not for me or any other minister or opposition politician to make a judgement on that. As I say, it is for the Americans to have the legal basis for their operation. I can't as a UK Government minister speak on behalf of the US administration."

Pope Leo XIV also commented on the developments in Venezuela, voicing his concern for the well-being of the people of that country, and stressing that Venezuela must remain independent. In December the Pope has urged President Trump to not use military force against Maduro: "The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration and lead us to overcome violence and to undertake paths of justice and peace, safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, ensuring the rule of law enshrined in the Constitution, respecting the human and civil rights of all, and working to build together a serene future of collaboration, stability, and concord, with special attention to the poorest who suffer because of the difficult economic situation."

Source: HRT