"When is an oil-motivated invasion of Venezuela even more absurd than it initially appears to be? When you don't even have any pressing need for the oil that you intend to steal. This is the boat that the second Donald Trump administration finds itself in, in the wake of deposing Nicolás Maduro and claiming that the U.S. is now "running" and "in charge" of the nation of Venezuela, terminology that still has yet to be explained in any specific way. Judging from today's comments by energy secretary Chris Wright, though, that the U.S. will be controlling all of Venezuela's oil sales "indefinitely," it's safe to characterize the U.S. as having simply seized the entirety of the Venezuelan oil industry. And naturally, Trump wants an initial cut off the top, like any good mob boss would."
"In a typically rambling Truth Social post on Tuesday evening, Trump claimed that the U.S. would kick off its new era of extortion by simply taking 30 to 50 million barrels of heavy crude (value of roughly $2-3 billion) from Venezuela. This oil will be "sold at its market price," and "that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States," just in case you feared that someone incompetent or corrupt might be put in charge of the operation. Not mentioned: Whether anyone in Venezuela, like "interim authority" President Delcy Rodríguez, had signed off on said plan, or even been informed of it. Something tells us that this is one of Trump's vintage "Just say that people have agreed to this and dare them to disagree publicly with you under threat of airstrike" moments."
The U.S. deposed Nicolás Maduro and claims operational control over Venezuela while asserting control of Venezuelan oil sales indefinitely. Energy officials framed U.S. control as a seizure of the oil industry with sales managed by U.S. authorities. President Trump publicly proposed taking 30–50 million barrels of heavy crude, selling it at market price, and directing proceeds under presidential control to benefit Venezuelans and Americans. Venezuelan authorities such as 'interim authority' President Delcy Rodríguez were not presented as consenting to the plan. The action raises concerns about international law violations and endangers oil supplies to Cuba.
Read at Jezebel
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