After US President Donald Trump stunned the world by saying the United States plans to “run” Venezuela, uncertainty over what that means and who is in charge loomed over the South American nation.
Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was an indicted prisoner on a flight bound for New York by the time his Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez – who Trump said would partner with Washington to “make Venezuela great again” – denounced the intervention as “barbaric” and a “kidnapping.”
Adding to the confusion was that the White House offered few details about what running an oil-producing nation of about 30 million people would entail. A US official said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio — who has spent his career criticising Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chávez — would take the leading administration role.
For now, there’s no plan spelled out to have US troops or administrators in Venezuela. But Trump signalled he’s keenly focused on the country’s petroleum, saying the US would have a “presence in Venezuela as it pertains to oil.” That could mean a greater role for Chevron Corp, which still operates in Venezu
Continue Reading on Buenos Aires Times
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.