Trump says US will be ‘very strongly involved’ in Venezuela’s oil industry
US President Donald Trump says Washington will play a major role in Venezuela’s oil sector following a military assault that led to the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Speaking to Fox News on Saturday, Trump said the United States is going to be "very strongly involved" in Venezuela's oil industry.
"We have the greatest oil companies in the world, the biggest, the greatest, and we're going to be very much involved,” he said.
In a post published on the social media platform Truth Social earlier on Saturday, Trump said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been kidnapped by US armed forces after Washington carried out a large-scale strike against the country.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,” he wrote.
US VP says 'stolen oil must be returned'
US Vice President JD Vance said the Venezuelan president has been offered “multiple off ramps” before he and his wife were kidnapped by the US military.
In a post on his X account on Saturday, Vance said President Trump maintained clarity throughout his numerous exit options.
“The drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States,” he wrote.
He added that Maduro has become the latest to realize that President Trump follows through on his words.
According to the London-based Energy Institute, Venezuela holds the world’s largest oil reserves – about 303 billion barrels, or 17% of global reserves – surpassing OPEC+ leader Saudi Arabia.
The military attack on Venezuela follows months of pressure on the country under the pretext of combating illegal drugs destined for the United States.
Caracas firmly denied any connection to drug trafficking and maintained that Washington aimed to overthrow the Venezuelan president in a bid to take control of the nation’s vast oil reserves.
At least 115 people have lost their lives in 35 attacks since early September, with the US administration refusing to clarify the identities of those targeted.
In December, Trump announced a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
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