Trump says Venezuela is ‘turning over’ hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil as US eyes Greenland: Live updates
President Donald Trump has announced that Venezuela is “turning over” millions of barrels of oil.
“I am pleased to announce that the Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday evening.
The president said the oil will be sold, and he will control the money from the sale “to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States.”
Also Tuesday, the Trump administration said it was considering using the military to acquire Greenland, days after completing a covert operation to capture Venezuela’s now-deposed President Nicolás Maduro.
Greenland, a mineral-rich Arctic island, is a self-governing territory of Denmark. Several major European nations said in a joint statement Tuesday: “Only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations.”
Trump told reporters last Sunday Greenland is “so strategic right now,” adding the territory “is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.”
Over the weekend, the U.S. captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas. They both subsequently pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges.
What the Trump administration is saying on Venezuela and Greenland
- After the U.S. captured Venezuela’s now-deposed President Nicolás Maduro to face drug charges, Trump said the interim authorities in the country will turn over between 30 and 50 million barrels of “sanctioned oil.”
- The president said on Tuesday the oil will be sold, and he will control the money from the sale “to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States.”
- Earlier Tuesday, the Trump administration said it was weighing options to acquire Greenland, including the use of the military.
- “The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the Commander-in-Chief’s disposal,” the White House said.
Mark Kelly calls Trump’s threats to acquire Greenland ‘dumb’
Senator Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, has called the Trump administration’s threats to acquire Greenland “dumb.”
“Americans are struggling to pay bills and what is the President of the United States worried about? Taking over Greenland,” Kelly wrote on X Tuesday.
Earlier Tuesday, the White House said it was weighing options to acquire Greenland, including the use of the military.
Kelly, along with other former service members and intelligence officials in Congress, was targeted by Trump after releasing a video urging the military to defy illegal orders.
Watch: UN Ambassador Mike Waltz defends Venezuela operation: ‘This was the right thing to do’
Tulsi Gabbard, who was once against U.S. intervention in Venezuela, congratulated the ‘flawless’ capture of Maduro
Tulsi Gabbard, who was once against U.S. intervention in Venezuela, congratulated the “flawless” capture of now-deposed President Nicolás Maduro.
The national intelligence director wrote on X Tuesday, “President Trump promised the American people he would secure our borders, confront narcoterrorism, dangerous drug cartels, and drug traffickers.
“Kudos to our servicemen and women and intelligence operators for their flawless execution of President Trump’s order to deliver on his promise thru Operation Absolute Resolve.”
This is a U-turn from her stance on Venezuela just a few years back.
In a resurfaced X post from 2019, Gabbard wrote, “The United States needs to stay out of Venezuela.”
Watch: Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss doubts Americans or Venezuelans ‘are ever going to get the benefit’ of oil sale
Republican says taking Greenland by force ‘would degrade both our national security’
Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, has said taking Greenland by force “would degrade both our national security and our international relationships.”
The White House has said it was considering using the military to acquire Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark.
Mike Johnson says he doesn’t think military action in Greenland is ‘appropriate’
When asked whether he would be comfortable using military action to seize Greenland, House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Tuesday, “No, I don’t think that’s appropriate.”
U.S. estimates about 75 people were killed in Venezuela raid: report
The U.S. government estimates about 75 people were killed in the military raid in Venezuela that led to the capture of now-deposed President Nicolás Maduro, officials familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.
Venezuelan oil could mean a nearly $3 billion pay day for U.S.: report
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Venezuela will turn over 30 to 50 million barrels of “sanctioned oil,” which the U.S. will then sell.
The Associated Press reported that the sale could be worth as much as $2.8 billion with oil trading at about $56 a barrel.
Trump said he will control the money from the sale “to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States.”
House and Senate to receive closed-door briefings on Venezuela operation Wednesday
The House and Senate will receive closed-door briefings on the U.S. raid in Venezuela on Wednesday, per CNN.
Top lawmakers on Capitol Hill were already briefed Monday by officials from the Trump administration, which Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said “gave us no clear answer to what comes next in Venezuela” after its now-deposed leader Nicolás Maduro was captured.
Source: independent.co.uk
