Weeks after capturing Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, US President Donald Trump has described himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela” in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. Earlier this month, US carried out what it called a large-scale military strike in Venezuela and captured Maduro and his wife and transported them to New York, where both are facing indictments on narco-terrorism conspiracy charges. Maduro pleaded not guilty to the charges in a Manhattan court and insisted he was still Venezuela’s rightful leader. Trump said the US would oversee and sell Venezuelan oil to global markets during this interim period.
Currently, Delcy Rodriguez took the oath as interim President of Venezuela. Rodriguez rejected US claims of authority, demanded Maduro’s release, and declared him the nation’s rightful leader. Trump has asked major American oil companies to invest up to $100 billion in Venezuela to rapidly expand the country’s oil production. He will decide which companies are allowed to operate in Venezuela and help rebuild its deteriorated oil sector.
