White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt believes the US has maximum leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela. The United States could effectively run Venezuela and tap into its oil reserves for years, Trump later told the New York Times. The American leader’s assertion of US dominance over the oil-rich South American country comes despite its interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, saying there is no foreign power governing Caracas.
“There is a stain on our relations such as had never occurred in our history,” Rodriguez said about the US attack to depose her predecessor. US special forces snatched president Maduro and his wife on Saturday in a lightning raid and whisked them to New York to face trial on drug and weapons charges, underscoring what Trump has called the “Donroe Doctine” of US dominance over its backyard. “We obviously have maximum leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela right now” following the capture operation, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing.
“We’re continuing to be in close coordination with the interim authorities, and their decisions are going to continue to be dictated by the United States of America.” Trump has said the United States will “run” Venezuela, which has the world’s largest proven oil reserves. “They’re giving us everything that we feel is necessary,” Trump told the Times. “Don’t forget, they took the oil from us years ago. When asked if US control of the country would last three months, six months or a year, Trump told the paper: “I would say much longer.” But Washington has no boots on the ground, and appears to be relying on a naval blockade and the threat of further force to ensure the cooperation of the interim president.
