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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has hinted that Washington's "oversight" of Venezuela could extend for years.
In an interview with The New York Times published this Thursday, Trump stated that his government's presence and control over the South American country will not be temporary, and that a “profitable reconstruction” has already begun following the capture of the former ruler Nicolás Maduro.
When asked whether this supervision would last for three months, six months, or longer, he responded that it would extend “much longer.”
"Only time will tell", Trump insisted, reaffirming that his administration is committed to leading the process of transformation in Venezuela, not only from a political perspective but also from an economic and energy standpoint.
“We are going to use oil, and we are going to take the oil”, he declared.
"We are lowering oil prices, and we are going to give money to Venezuela, which desperately needs it," he added.
A new connection with Delcy Rodríguez
The transition, as made clear by the president, is being carried out in collaboration with the new interim government of Venezuela, led by Delcy Rodríguez, a figure close to Chavismo who has been de facto recognized by Washington.
“We are getting along very well with the administration that is there right now”, Trump stated, emphasizing: “They are providing us with everything we consider necessary.”
Although Rodríguez was vice president under Nicolás Maduro, who is currently detained in New York awaiting trial on charges of drug trafficking and narcoterrorism, the White House has decided to maintain a direct and fluid line of communication with her government.
“We are in constant communication with her and with the government,” declared Trump.
Oil: The Center of Control
Trump's most revealing announcement was the launch of a plan to refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil, which had previously been blocked by U.S. sanctions.
“We are going to be using oil and we are going to be consuming oil”, he emphasized.
This operation marks a turning point, not only because it frees up frozen resources, but also because it establishes a model of direct control over Venezuela's oil exports.
The U.S. Department of Energy was clear: “The only oil transported in and out of Venezuela will be through channels approved by U.S. law and the interests of the United States.”
This means, in practice, that Washington will oversee every oil transaction coming from the South American country.
Vice President J.D. Vance said it plainly: "We control the energy resources and we tell the regime: you are allowed to sell oil as long as it benefits the United States."
And he added: "We can control Venezuela's wallet by dictating where its oil can be sold."
Marco Rubio, for his part, explained that the shipments of Venezuelan crude oil seized in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea will be part of the new export scheme.
"The interim authorities of Venezuela want that seized oil to be part of this agreement," he pointed out.
And he warned: "They understand that the only way to move oil and generate revenue without economic collapse is if they cooperate and work with the United States."
A three-phase plan without dates
The redesign of Venezuela under American oversight does not yet have a clear timeline, but it already has a defined structure.
Rubio explained that the plan will be developed in three phases: “The first step is the stabilization of the country. The second phase will be the recovery, ensuring that the West has access to Venezuelan markets. The third stage will be the transition.”
The White House has refrained from providing specific dates, although Trump promised that he will soon commit to a tentative schedule for elections in the country.
At the moment, the primary focus seems to be ensuring the flow of oil under favorable conditions for the U.S., securing political control of the transition, and aligning key actors both inside and outside of Venezuela.
Warning to Petro and Regional Disciplining
The redesign of Venezuela also has a regional dimension.
During the interview with The New York Times, Trump interrupted his statements to take a call from Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
Moments before, he had issued a direct warning to the Colombian leader: "You should watch your back."
After the phone conversation, which lasted about an hour, the tension dissipated.
According to a statement from the Colombian embassy in the U.S., "the Government of Colombia welcomes the constructive tone of the conversation and highlights that, through the established diplomatic channels, preparations are underway for the meeting between the two presidents in Washington."
According to Times, Trump believed that "the decapitation of Maduro's regime" has had a deterrent effect on other governments in the region, forcing them to align with the new U.S. strategy in Latin America.
Venezuela under guardianship
Trump's statements and those of his team suggest a new logic of intervention.
Venezuela is no longer just a point of geopolitical contention; it is now a platform from which the United States seeks to project power, control resources, and shape the political future of the hemisphere.
“We are going to rebuild the country in a very profitable way”, Trump insisted, making it clear that this is not just a humanitarian or diplomatic operation, but rather an enterprise with geostrategic and economic benefits for Washington.
The ongoing process redefines the notion of sovereignty for Venezuela.
With an interim government validated by the White House, resources managed by U.S. agencies, and a transition without a timeline, the country is effectively under supervision with no expiration date.
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