Washington, DC [US], January 11 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed that Cuba had lived for many years on Venezuelan oil and financial support, but said this would now end following a US strike in Venezuela and the capture of its President, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that Cuba had relied on large amounts of oil and money from Venezuela and, in return, provided “security services” for what he described as the country’s last two dictators. He claimed that this arrangement was now over, asserting that many Cuban personnel had been killed in last week’s US attack and that Venezuela no longer required protection. Trump said the United States would now protect Venezuela and declared that there would be no more oil or money going to Cuba, urging Havana to make a deal before it was “too late.”
Following Maduro’s capture, Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez officially assumed charge as the country’s acting president, according to CNN.
Trump earlier said the United States would now “run Venezuela” and seek full access to the country’s oil resources from the newly appointed acting president.
Earlier on Friday, Trump met top oil and gas executives at the White House and said major investments would be made in Venezuela’s energy sector. Addressing reporters, he said the administration had a productive meeting with oil executives and that an agreement had effectively been formed.
He added that companies would invest hundreds of billions of dollars in drilling oil, calling it beneficial for both Venezuela and the United States. Trump said significant profits would be made and that oil prices would come down further, describing the meeting as a success involving some of the world’s largest companies.
The US President also assured oil executives of safety and security in Venezuela, saying the United States had built Venezuela’s oil industry earlier and would now take full control of assets that he claimed had been stolen.
Trump said he was pleased to welcome some of the biggest oil and gas companies to the White House and added that the departure of Nicolas Maduro made possible a strong future for both countries.
Earlier this week, Trump said Venezuela would turn over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, which would be sold at market value, with the proceeds controlled by Washington.
Meanwhile, Cuba last week announced that 32 of its citizens were killed during the US military operation in Venezuela. The Cuban government also observed two days of national mourning on January 5 and January 6 to honor those killed in the operation.
About The Author
