U.S. forces recently launched a raid in Venezuela, capturing then-President Maduro and bringing him to New York for trial. U.S. President Trump stated on the 9th that had the U.S. not done this, the influence of China or Russia “would already have entered Venezuela.” He emphasized that the U.S. does not want to see them appear there and become close neighbors; however, he also mentioned that the U.S. is open to selling oil to China and Russia.
According to the Central News Agency, Maduro has maintained close relations with China and Russia. Venezuela possesses abundant oil resources. Trump previously stated that America’s large oil companies would enter Venezuela for investment. On the 9th, he met with senior executives of major U.S. oil companies at the White House to discuss plans for Venezuela’s oil industry.
He pointed out that this meeting would discuss how U.S. companies could quickly help rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry and provide millions of barrels of oil output to “benefit the American, Venezuelan people, and the entire world.” According to the plan, American oil companies will invest at least 100 billion dollars locally for the capacity and infrastructure needed for reconstruction.
Trump also said that Maduro stepping down would bring an “exciting future” for both Venezuela and the United States, and would allow the economies of the two major energy powers of the Western Hemisphere to become more closely integrated.
Trump stated that if the U.S. had not taken action, “Chinese or Russian forces would already be in Venezuela,” but the U.S. does not wish to see China or Russia as close neighbors. “I have already told China, and I have also told Russia: we get along very well with you, we like you very much, but we do not want you to appear there.”
He said: “We cannot allow China or Russia to occupy Venezuela.”
However, Trump also mentioned that the U.S. is open for business. China can purchase any oil it wants from the U.S., and Russia too can obtain whatever oil it needs from the U.S.