Trump Vows U.S. to Manage Venezuela Until Safe Transition of Power
Former President Trump stated that the U.S. will run Venezuela temporarily until a safe, proper, and judicious transition can occur. The plan involves direct U.S. management of the country with partners, focusing on rebuilding the oil sector, including billions in investments from oil companies to restore oil flow.
U.S. special forces recently bombed Caracas and captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were taken to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Trump said the U.S. is prepared to escalate and could launch a second, larger attack if necessary; U.S. troops remain in position and a ground presence is not ruled out.
U.S. officials are now engaging with Venezuela's newly sworn-in vice president, selected by Maduro, who is reportedly willing to cooperate for the country's future. Opposition figures Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado have positioned themselves as a unity alternative. Machado has urged the armed forces to recognize González as the legitimate president; her current whereabouts remain unknown.
The article draws historical context, noting the 1989 U.S. military intervention in Panama to oust Manuel Noriega. It cites the stabilization challenges and civilian harm experienced following that intervention, emphasizing the delicate nature of such military engagements.
