Can the U.S. Really "Run" Venezuela?

"Just days into the New Year, and following months of military escalation, the United States attacked Venezuela, capturing its President, Nicolás Maduro. On Truth Social, President Trump posted a photo of what he said was Maduro aboard the U.S.S. Iwo Jima, blindfolded with a heavy-looking headset over his ears. In a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump asserted that the United States will "run" the country."

"It's too early to truly say. But as ever with Trump, the possibility of lucrative fringe benefits for his family's empire, or those of close allies, seems to follow any major foreign-policy initiatives; his vaunted "Gaza Riviera" plan comes to mind. In Venezuela, I suspect-in tandem with whatever notionally sovereign regime is kept in place to keep things stable and get the oil pumping again-it is likely to involve some U.S. oil and mining majors."

Following months of military escalation, the United States attacked Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro. President Trump posted a photo purportedly showing Maduro aboard the U.S.S. Iwo Jima, blindfolded and wearing a heavy headset, and stated the United States would "run" the country. Analysts say it is too early to know the full plan but note a long history of U.S. interventions and the risk of private gains tied to foreign-policy moves. Observers suspect a transitional, notionally sovereign regime may be retained to restart oil production and that U.S. oil and mining majors could play a central role.

Read at The New Yorker