Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated President Donald Trump’s statement today: the United States will receive between 30 and 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil. Which they will sell at market price, and they will control the proceeds.
Following a briefing at the Capitol, Rubio answered reporters’ questions. Regarding the immediate future of the Venezuelan oil industry. He said that the Trump administration is close to finalizing a deal.
“We are going to acquire between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil. We will sell them on the market, at market prices. Not with the discounts that Venezuela was getting. That money will be managed in such a way that we will control how it is distribute. So that it benefits the Venezuelan people,” he said.
The agreement would involve acquiring the aforementioned quantity of barrels of fuel to “sell them on the open market. Then distribute the profits to finance Venezuela’s transition to a new government.”
He also commented that a “second phase” of the current administration’s plan is to ensure that “American, Western, and other companies have fair access to the Venezuelan market.”
Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed this Wednesday in a classified briefing with members of Congress that U.S. control of Venezuelan oil sales “represents enormous influence. We are exercising it in a positive way,” he emphasized. Although the deployment of troops is not ruled out.
According to Democrats, the briefing left many questions unanswered about the future of Venezuela. “We need answers about how long this will last. We need answers about how many troops, how much money…?” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
For their part, Republican senators expressed confidence that government officials believe controlling Venezuela’s oil exports will give them enough leverage to control the country.
“We are in control. If they try to undermine what we are doing, they will pay the price,” added South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, in a threatening tone.
Yesterday, in a message on Truth Social, Trump predicted that he will control the money generated from the sale. At market price of the 30 to 50 million barrels of oil that Venezuelan authorities would deliver to the United States.
This oil, he indicated, will be sold at its market Price. “And I, as President of the United States, will control that money” to ensure, he asserted. “That it is used for the benefit of the Venezuelan people and the United States.”
After months of intense pressure and threats against the Venezuelan government. Trump ordered an attack on Caracas and several other targets in the South American nation early Saturday morning. Which resulted in the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Both were forcibly remove from Venezuela and taken to the United States. Where they were detain at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a high-security prison in New York City.
With information from CNA
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