Trump demands Venezuela cut ties with Russia and China — ABC News
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The administration of US President Donald Trump is demanding that Venezuela's interim government sever economic ties with Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba, ABC News reports.
What White House demands
According to three sources familiar with the Trump administration's plan, Venezuela's interim President, Delcy Rodríguez, must comply with the White House's demands before the country will be allowed to produce more oil.
"First, the country must kick out China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba and sever economic ties, the sources said. Second, Venezuela must agree to partner exclusively with the US on oil production and favor America when selling heavy crude oil," ABC News writes.
How US will pressure Venezuela
One of the agency's interlocutors said that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a closed briefing for members of Congress, stated Washington's ability to force Venezuela to make concessions.
According to him, the country's oil tankers are overflowing, and without the ability to sell its reserves, Venezuela could become financially insolvent in a matter of weeks.
US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker also confirmed in an interview with ABC News that the American plan depends on control over Venezuela's oil.
He says he did not believe this would require the deployment of US troops.
"The government does intend to control the oil, taking charge of the ships, the tankers, and none of them are going to go to Havana. And until they start moving -- we hope to the open market -- there are no more tankers to fill, because they're totally full," Wicker says.
On his social media account, Truth Social, Trump states that the US would receive up to 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela.
US operation in Venezuela
On January 3, the US conducted a large-scale special operation in Venezuela, during which the country's President, Nicolás Maduro, was detained. The US military took him to the US along with his wife, Cilia Flores.
US President Donald Trump publicly praised the operation, calling the US military the most powerful and sophisticated in the world.
According to The Washington Post, at least 75 people were killed in air strikes and gun battles in Caracas during Maduro's capture. No Americans were among them.
Meanwhile, representatives of the US Republican Party assure that the military operation in Venezuela, which led to the overthrow of Nicolás Maduro, will not turn into an endless war.
