Trump newest: President accused of ‘insane plan’ to ‘steal Venezuelan oil at gunpoint’
Donald Trump has been accused of plotting to steal Venezuela’s vast oil reserves “at gunpoint” after unveiling plans to control sales “indefinitely” for US gain.
The US Department of Energy on Wednesday revealed a scheme to keep all proceeds from oil sales in US-controlled accounts before the government decides how they are used “for the benefit of the American people and the Venezuelan people”.
Dem Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut called the plan “insane”, telling reporters: “They are talking about stealing the Venezuelan oil at gunpoint for a period of time undefined as leverage to micromanage the country.”
“The scope and insanity of that plan is absolutely stunning.”
Energy secretary Chris Wright said that the administration’s priority was stabilising Venezuela’s economy, insisting: “We are not stealing anyone’s oil.”
It came as Donald Trump threatened to stay in Venezuela for years to help “rebuild” the country with oil profits. Asked by the New York Times whether he plans to stay in Venezuela for three months, six months, a year or longer, Trump replied: “I would say much longer.”
“We will rebuild it in a very profitable way,” he assured, adding: “We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil.”
Watch: Inside the Venezuelan refugee shanty towns where hope is dangerous
Venezuela primed for violent insurgency following US intervention, experts warn
“Venezuela is primed for violent resistance to the US controlling the oil,” said Robert Pape, a professor at the University of Chicago’s political science department and director of the Chicago Project on Security Threats.
He described the scene as the “perfect terrain for insurgency”, adding: “Chaos is coming.”
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Trump calls to boost defence spending to $1.5trn amid threats to Greenland
Donald Trump called to raise US defence spending to $1.5trn on Wednesday amid a growing spat with NATO allies over the future of Greenland.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, the president said he would ask Congress for an extra $500bn to bring the Pentagon’s budget to a record high.
He said the money would fund his “Dream Military”, without much explanation.
The post comes after a flurry of activity deposing Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and threatening military intervention to take Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.
Watch: Moment US Coast Guard seizes Russian-flagged tanker in the Atlantic
The US Coast Guard has shared footage of the moment it intercepted Bella I, also known as the Marinera.
The US has described the vessel as a “Venezuelan shadow-fleet vessel that has transported sanctioned oil” and “deemed stateless after flying a false flag”.
Marine Traffic showed that the ship’s flag status was changed to Russian on 4 January.
The US won’t station troops in Venezuela, officials insist after Trump’s warning
National security leaders told senators on Wednesday that the US does not plan to station troops in Venezuela, according to Politico.
Lawmakers told the outlet that Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio still maintained that the US military would stay in the area for the foreseeable future.
Donald Trump told NBC News earlier this week that he was prepared to send more troops in if interim president Delcy Rodriguez stops cooperating.
Role of Venezuelan government still unclear as US eyes oil profits
Delcy Rodriguez’s role as interim president of Venezuela remains unclear with Donald Trump insisting the US will control oil revenues for the foreseeable future.
The US president told the New York Times that he was getting on well with Nicolas Maduro’s replacement, who has taken a more conciliatory tone towards the US since being sworn into office on Monday.
In an interview with the NYT published on Thursday, the US president made no commitments about when elections would be held in Venezuela, leaving the country’s democracy in question.
Plan to manage Venezuelan oil slammed by Dem senator
The Trump administration is facing intense opposition to the announced plan to control Venezuela’s oil sales “indefinitely”.
The US Department of Energy revealed on Wednesday a scheme to keep all proceeds from oil sales in US-controlled accounts before the US government decides how they are used “for the benefit of the American people and the Venezuelan people”.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut called the plan “insane”.
“They are talking about stealing the Venezuelan oil at gunpoint for a period of time undefined as leverage to micromanage the country,” he told reporters.
“The scope and insanity of that plan is absolutely stunning.”
Trump threatens to control Venezuelan oil for years
Donald Trump has suggested US involvement in Venezuela could last for years as they “rebuild” the country with seized oil money.
The US president was asked by the New York Times whether he foresaw the US overseeing Venezuela for three months, six months, a year or longer.
“I would say much longer,” he said, in an interview published early on Thursday. “Only time will tell,” he added.
Trump insisted that Venezuela would be rebuild “in a very profitable way”, adding: “We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil. We’re getting oil prices down, and we’re going to be giving money to Venezuela, which they desperately need.”
He said that the US was “getting along very well” with interim president Delcy Rodriguez, who replaced ousted leader Nicolas Maduro on Monday.
Trump says US oversight of Venezuela could last years
President Donald Trump has said that “only time will tell” how long the U.S. will maintain oversight of Venezuela.
When asked by the New York Times if it would be three months, six months, a year, or longer, Trump said: “I would say much longer.”
Source: independent.co.uk
