UPDATE: In a stunning development, President Donald Trump announced that the United States will “run” Venezuela following the October 7, 2023 capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. This urgent move comes after a large-scale military operation aimed at stabilizing the country and preventing further chaos.
Questions are mounting over what Trump’s declaration to “run” the country entails. “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition,” Trump stated during a press conference. He emphasized that this transition must avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. The world is now focused on how the U.S. plans to implement this control and the implications for Venezuelan citizens.
Senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, were present during Trump’s announcement, indicating a high-level commitment to the operation. The administration’s strategy appears to focus not on direct governance, but rather on steering Venezuelan officials away from corruption and narcotics trafficking, according to Rubio. He stated, “We will not be ‘running’ Venezuela in the sense of appointing its officials or rewriting its laws.”
Trump assured the public that U.S. forces are already on the ground, stating, “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground if we have to have.” His comments come amid heightened scrutiny over military involvement in foreign nations. The president’s stance signals a shift in American foreign policy, potentially leading to long-term U.S. presence in the region.
The operation’s success depends heavily on Venezuela’s rich oil reserves. “We don’t need Venezuela’s oil,” Trump remarked, “but we won’t allow adversaries of the United States to control it.” This statement has raised alarms regarding international relations, particularly with nations like China, Russia, and Iran, looking to leverage Venezuelan resources.
As the U.S. seeks to block Venezuelan oil transactions, the economic ramifications for the country could be severe. “We have a quarantine on their oil,” Rubio explained, suggesting that Venezuela’s economy may struggle until U.S. interests and the welfare of Venezuelan citizens are prioritized.
Critics are already questioning the U.S. strategy and its potential for overreach. The challenge for Trump will be to ensure stability without escalating military engagement. As the situation evolves, the world watches closely, aware that failure to stabilize Venezuela could lead to further chaos and accusations of reckless intervention.
The immediate priority for the administration is a “safe, proper, and judicious transition” of power. How quickly and effectively this is achieved could determine the political landscape for Trump as he heads into midterm campaigning.
Stay tuned for live updates as this story develops, and share your thoughts on how this intervention will impact both Venezuela and U.S. foreign policy moving forward.
