The US will run Venezuela until a safe, proper and judicious transition can be ensured, Donald Trump has said, following US strikes that led to the capture of the country's President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump declared that US oil companies would fix Venezuela's broken infrastructure and would start making money for the country. The militaristic approach taken by the US began with strikes that removed Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from power, inciting a declaration of national emergency by Venezuela.
As Maduro was taken away by US forces, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez denounced the US invasion and insisted that Maduro remains the country's only legitimate leader.
According to reports, Maduro and Flores were transported from Caracas in a US helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima, subsequently taken to Guantanamo Bay and then flown to New York City where they face serious charges including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism.
Trump emphasized the long-neglected status of the Venezuelan oil industry, stating the US will involve its largest oil firms to revitalize the sector, which holds about 20% of the world's oil resources. The situation remains volatile, with Trump's plans for a governing body to manage the transition still unclear.
International reactions have been swift; Russia and China condemned the US actions as armed aggression, while various Latin American countries echoed similar sentiments. Meanwhile, Trump underscored the desire for a peaceful transition, despite the military backdrop.
