Trump Says US Will Keep or Sell Oil Seized from Venezuela
Donald Trump has announced that the United States will either keep or sell the crude oil extracted from tankers seized off Venezuela’s coast, along with the vessels themselves. This remark comes amid ongoing efforts by Washington to pressure Nicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, to step down.
– Speaking to reporters in Florida on Monday, Trump stated, “We’re going to keep it. Maybe we will sell it, maybe we will keep it. Maybe we’ll use it in the Strategic Reserves. We’re keeping the ships also.”
– The Trump administration has accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug-related crime, while Venezuelan officials have condemned the seizures as “piracy.”
– Recently, the US military has seized two oil tankers this month, including one just last Saturday.
– Trump noted that the US Coast Guard is pursuing a third tanker linked to Venezuela’s “dark fleet,” which is reportedly used to evade US sanctions, saying, “It’s moving along, and we’ll end up getting it.”
In another development, the US military announced it struck a suspected trafficking vessel in international waters in the eastern Pacific, resulting in one death.
Targeting Maduro’s Regime
When asked if the seizures were aimed at forcing Maduro from power, Trump replied, “Well, I think it probably would… That’s up to him what he wants to do. I think it’d be smart for him to do that. But again, we’re gonna find out.”
– The US has been enhancing its military presence in the Pacific and Caribbean Seas. The administration reports that it has conducted lethal strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats, claiming approximately 100 casualties.
– Despite these assertions, the military has not provided public evidence that the vessels were engaged in drug trafficking, leading to increased scrutiny from Congress over these operations.
On Monday, Trump emphasized that the US plans to extend its military approach to land targets as well, stating, “We’ll be starting the same program on land. If they want to come by land, they’re going to end up having a big problem. They’re going to get blown to pieces because we don’t want our people poisoned.”
In response, Maduro publicly criticized Trump, stating, “He would be better off in his own country dealing with economic and social issues, and the world would be better off if he focused on his own country’s affairs.”
Since taking office again in January, Trump has doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture, labeling him as “one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world.” The administration has designated Maduro’s government as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) and recently initiated a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.
Given that the Venezuelan government heavily relies on oil exports for funding public spending, these latest measures have ignited outrage from officials in Caracas. At Venezuela’s request, the UN Security Council is set to convene an emergency session to address what is being described as “ongoing US aggression.”