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The United States President, Donald Trump, has said that the United States could assume long-term control over Venezuela and tap into its vast oil reserves for years.
In an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, Trump said it remained unclear how long Washington would maintain direct oversight of Venezuela, but indicated it would be far longer than a few months or a year.
“Only time will tell how long Washington will demand direct oversight of the South American country,” Trump said.
However, when asked whether that meant three months, six months, or a year, he replied, “I would say much longer.”
His remarks came despite Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, insisting that no foreign power was governing the country. She described the US action to remove Nicolas Maduro as an unprecedented rupture in bilateral relations.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized by US special forces in a surprise operation last Saturday and flown to New York to face drug and weapons charges. The move reinforced what Trump has described as a doctrine asserting US dominance in the region.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the United States now had maximum leverage over Venezuela’s interim authorities following the operation, adding that Washington remained in close coordination with them and their decisions were being shaped by US direction.
Trump has repeatedly said the United States would effectively “run” Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, and claimed the interim authorities were complying with US demands.
Although there are no US troops deployed inside Venezuela, Washington appears to be relying on a naval blockade and the threat of further military action to secure cooperation from Caracas.
Venezuelan authorities said on Wednesday that at least 100 people were killed and a similar number wounded during the US attack.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said Maduro and his wife were among the injured, though both appeared to walk unaided during a court appearance in New York earlier this week.
Cuba later said 32 members of its military were among those killed, noting that Cuban personnel had been providing security for Maduro.
The Trump administration has signalled that it intends to work with Rodríguez while sidelining opposition figures, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, though it has released few details of its broader strategy.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Wednesday that the administration was not improvising its post-Maduro plans, amid criticism on Capitol Hill. He said the initial phase included an agreement for Venezuela to transfer between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States for resale.
Trump later said proceeds from those oil sales would be used by Venezuela exclusively to purchase American-made products, including agricultural goods, machinery, medical equipment and energy infrastructure.
Rubio added that a second “recovery” phase would open Venezuela’s market to US and Western companies, while also beginning a national reconciliation process.
Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, confirmed it was in talks with the United States over oil sales within existing commercial frameworks. However, US officials have suggested Washington is pursuing longer-term influence over the sector.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the United States planned to market Venezuelan crude immediately and continue selling future production indefinitely.
US media have reported that Trump and his advisers are considering a plan that would give Washington some control over PDVSA, potentially placing much of the Western Hemisphere’s oil reserves under US influence as Trump seeks to push global oil prices down to around $50 a barrel.
Trump is expected to meet executives from major US oil companies on Friday to discuss potential investments in Venezuela’s deteriorating energy infrastructure, though no firm commitments have yet been announced.
