There is no immediate deadline for how long the U.S. could be in control of Venezuela, President Donald Trump said.
It could be years or, as Trump put it, “I would say much longer.”
Trump spoke with “The New York Times” about the U.S.’s tenure in Venezuela.
He said the U.S. could be in control of Venezuela for years.
“Only time will tell,” he said.
The president said the U.S. wants to “rebuild” Venezuela “in a very profitable way.”
“We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil,” he said. “We’re getting oil prices down, and we’re going to be giving money to Venezuela, which they desperately need.”
Trump said his administration is in “constant communication” with Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
He added Secretary of State Marco Rubio “speaks with her all the time.”
Many are asking what Venezuela will look like in the future after the country’s former leader Nicolás Maduro was captured Saturday.
Trump has upped his talk about the role oil will play in the U.S. takeover He announced this week that Venezuela will turn over 30-50 million barrels of oil.
There are also questions about this means for other Latin American countries.
Trump said Sunday a U.S. operation in Colombia “sounds good” and that Cuba is “ready to fall.”
Trump took a call from Colombian President Gustavo Petro during the NYT interview. That call was off the record.
Although Petro and Trump have exchanged jabs, Trump said on Truth Social it was an “honor” to speak with the Petro.
“I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future,” Trump wrote.
The president added arrangements are being made for Rubio and Petro to meet in Washington.
