President Trump said the United States has taken control of Venezuelan oil from seven tankers that were recently seized, though he declined to disclose where the vessels are now located.
“I’m not allowed to tell you,” the president told The NY Post during an interview in the Oval Office on Friday. “But let’s put it this way, they don’t have any oil. We take the oil.”
Trump made the remarks while seated behind the Resolute Desk.
Visible behind him was the Nobel Peace Prize he received from Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, still in its frame and resting against the base of a golden eagle statue.
The president said he has not yet decided where the award will ultimately be displayed inside the White House.
At the same time, Trump said the oil taken from Venezuela is already being processed inside the United States.
“The oil’s coming into the refineries in Houston, in various places.”
The administration plans to sell as much as 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude at prevailing market rates.
“We are running the oil in Venezuela,” Trump said. “Venezuela is going to get some, and we’re going to get some. Then we have the big oil companies going in, and they’ll be taking so much oil that Venezuela will make more money than they’ve ever made before.”
Following the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise overnight operation on Jan. 3, the Trump administration moved quickly to assert control over the country’s oil production, refining operations, and international supply chain.
Earlier this month, Trump met with executives from major energy companies to discuss a potential $100 billion investment aimed at rebuilding and modernizing Venezuela’s oil infrastructure.
Administration officials have indicated that proceeds from the seized tankers could be used to help fund those reconstruction efforts.
Trump has also suggested that the U.S. government would compensate American oil companies for their role in reviving Venezuela’s energy sector.
The president told The Post that he is satisfied with interim President Delcy Rodríguez.
“We have a great relationship with the new president,” he said. “She’s been terrific.”
{Matzav.com}
