WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump stated late Sunday that "we're in charge" of Venezuela, while warning its interim leader Delcy Rodríguez that she will fare "probably worse" than captured President Nicolas Maduro if she does not cooperate.
It was his latest threat to Rodríguez, the former vice president, who struck a more diplomatic tone as she extended an invitation to work with the U.S. “on an agenda of cooperation” and “within the framework of international law.”
Trump threatened military action against Colombia, drawing backlash from its president, but said there were no plans for immediate intervention in Cuba, predicting its government was "just going to fall." He again outlined his desire to take over Greenland, drawing widespread pushback including from NATO ally Denmark, which governs the Arctic island nation.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump fleshed out his vision for Venezuela after the American attack, saying he would allow oil companies access to its world's-largest reserves so they could reclaim oil he claims has been stolen.
“We’re going to take our oil back,” he said during a 40 minute talk with reporters.
On when elections might be held, he said "Well we're going to run everything. We're going to run it, fix it. We'll have elections at the right time."
Asked who was currently in charge of Venezuela, Trump said, "We're dealing with the people. We're dealing with the people that just got sworn in. And don't ask me who's in charge, because I'll give you an answer, and it'll be very controversial."
Pressed on what that meant, he added, "It means we're in charge."
Venezuela's supreme court declared Rodríguez would immediately assume the leadership after U.S. forces captured Maduro and brought him to New York, where he will appear in court Monday on narco-terrorism charges.
Trump said he had not spoken with Rodriguez "but other people have" and that "she's cooperating."
He earlier told The Atlantic that “if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.” He reiterated this aboard Air Force One.
"I just say that she will face a situation probably worse than Maduro. Because, you know, Maduro gave up immediately," he said. "He gave up, and he did the right thing, but he gave up. So we were actually... we were so effective. And it was so fast and violent. It was very violent, but we were so effective. He raised his hands, he gave up."
Trump said Saturday that Rodríguez had a “gracious” conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “She said, ‘We’ll do whatever you need,’” he said, “But she really doesn’t have a choice. We’re going to have this done right.”
Later on Saturday, though, Rodríguez said Maduro was “the only president of Venezuela” and called for his “immediate liberation.”
Trump said he would be asking Rodríguez to give “total access” to oil companies.
Oil prices swung Sunday evening, as investors and traders weighed the market forces that could be unleashed by Trump’s attack and his comments about what could be next for Venezuela and its massive oil reserves.
Trump claims that Venezuela "stole" U.S. oil because of the role American companies played in developing the country's petroleum industry in the early 1900s. Later in the 20th century, Venezuela then nationalized the industry and vastly reduced production.
"The country is a mess. It's been horribly run. The oil is just flowing at a very low level," Trump said. "So we're going to have the big oil companies go in, and they're going to fix the infrastructure. They're going to invest money. We're not going to invest anything. We're going to just take care of the country. We're going to cherish the country. We're going to take care, more importantly, of the people, including Venezuelans."
And asked if he had reversed his previous opposition to nation-building, he added, "We're in the business of having countries around us that are viable and successful, and where the oil is allowed to freely come out, because that's good, it gets the prices down. That's good for our country."
He also hinted at the possibility of future strikes, saying the U.S. is “ready to stage a second and much larger attack if we need to.”
In a Spanish-language statement, Rodríguez wrote, "President Donald Trump: Our people and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war. That has always been President Nicolás Maduro’s position, and it is the position of all of Venezuela at this moment."
"That is the Venezuela I believe in and have dedicated my life to. My dream is for Venezuela to be a great power where all good Venezuelans can come together," she added.
Megan Lebowitz reported from Washington, and Alexander Smith from London.
