Newsletters
U.S. President Donald Trump said oil companies will rebuild all of Venezuela's oil infrastructure, stating they will spend "at least $100 billion" and touting the country's "incredible" oil reserves.
"They're going to rebuild the entire oil infrastructure. At least $100 billion they're going to spend, and the oil they have is incredible, incredible quality and quantity of oil," Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity in his first sit-down interview since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump announced that he will meet with oil executives at the White House on Friday, Jan.9.
"The top 14 companies are coming here," he added.
Revenue generated from Venezuelan oil will be claimed to be used to "benefit both the Venezuelan people and the United States."
Trump also revealed that he plans to meet Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado next week.
"Next week we're going to get together, and I can't wait to say 'Hello' to her," Trump said when asked whether he planned to meet with Machado following the U.S. military intervention.
Trump argued that Venezuela needs to be rebuilt, saying, "They couldn't have an election. They don't even know how to have an election right now. Eventually, elections will be held."
Regarding Machado's offer to give Trump her Nobel Peace Prize for "liberating Venezuela," the U.S. president said it would be a "great honor," though he did not directly say whether he would accept it.
Trump praised the U.S. military personnel involved in the Venezuelan operations, offering admiration for what he called a "fantastic group" that carried out the mission.
"His house was in the middle of a fort, with thousands of people and soldiers. And we went right into the middle of a fort. Who would think you could do that and not lose anybody? But they had it planned so beautifully, General 'Razin Caine' and Pete Hegseth were fantastic," Trump said.
The president addressed the number of Cuban soldiers "wiped out" in the military operation.
"I don't even want to say how many, but they got wiped out," Trump said.
Trump also claimed Cuba is completely dependent on Venezuela for money and oil, and provides protection to Venezuela in return, saying, "Cuba totally relies on Venezuela for money and for oil, and they give Venezuela protection. That's been the deal, always."
When asked whether he thinks Cuba can survive without Venezuela's support, Trump replied: "No."
The U.S. president also stated that Washington will expand operations against drug cartels.
"We've knocked out 97% of the drugs coming in by water, and we are going to start now hitting land. The cartels are running Mexico, it's very sad to watch, and see what's happened to that country," Trump said, adding, "They're killing 250,000, 300,000 in our country every single year."
Meanwhile, Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez said she remains "loyally committed to kidnapped President Nicolas Maduro" at a rank promotion ceremony at the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) Military Academy's Eclectic Monument, broadcast live on state channel VTV.
"We are loyally committed to kidnapped President Nicolas Maduro. Likewise, our loyalty to the first fighter and deputy Cilia Flores is complete. We are determined to fight without stopping until we see them regain their freedom and return to their homes and homeland," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez addressed the American people: "The Venezuelan people did not deserve this despicable and warlike attack, this attack carried out by a nuclear power. This event has gone down as a stain on our relations and our history."
Emphasizing that no one surrendered during the U.S. military intervention, Rodriguez said: "No one surrendered here, there was fighting here, and this fighting was for this homeland. It was for our freedom fighter Simon Bolivar, for Hugo Chavez, and there was fighting here for Venezuela. This is our greatest satisfaction."
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, and families of soldiers who died in the U.S. military intervention attended the ceremony.
Set as preferred source
1 min read
