Washington, Jan 4 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will take temporary control of Venezuela following the arrest of Nicolas Maduro. He emphasized that it is crucial for Washington to manage the transition to avoid instability and to rebuild the nation’s oil infrastructure.

When asked directly who would govern Venezuela, Trump stated, “We will be managing it with a group,” revealing that US officials are already being appointed for this task.

He noted that the United States would remain in charge “until a secure, appropriate, and careful transition can occur,” cautioning that leaving prematurely could lead to past mistakes being repeated. “If we just walked away, it has no chance of recovering,” he remarked during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago.

The president particularly highlighted the significance of Venezuela’s oil industry, calling it essential for both recovery and stability. “The oil sector in Venezuela has been a disaster,” Trump declared, indicating that major US oil companies are prepared to invest billions to restore the infrastructure.

“We will rebuild the oil infrastructure,” he asserted. “The costs will be covered by the oil companies themselves.”

Trump indicated that the United States would maintain an ongoing presence related to energy operations. “We will have a presence in Venezuela concerning oil,” he stated, adding that the wealth generated would benefit Venezuelans and reimburse the United States.

When questioned about the potential deployment of US troops, Trump responded, “We aren’t hesitant about boots on the ground,” mentioning that American personnel are already engaged in the operation.

He assured that the administration would prevent individuals associated with the Maduro regime from remaining in power. “We know who they are. We are monitoring them,” Trump stated.

Trump also responded to inquiries about collaborating with Venezuela’s current vice president, noting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had communicated with her. “She’s essentially willing to do what we believe is necessary,” Trump explained.

Defending this approach as aligned with his “America First” policy, Trump remarked, “We want to surround ourselves with good neighbors,” reiterating that Venezuela’s energy resources are crucial for global stability.

Regarding foreign involvement, Trump confirmed that the United States plans to sell oil internationally. “We are in the oil business,” he stated. “We will be exporting significant quantities of oil to various countries.”

Trump dismissed worries about long-term administration, insisting that it would not be a financial burden on US taxpayers. “It won’t cost us anything,” he claimed, citing the revenues from oil.

The United States has long enforced sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry, accusing its leadership of corruption and mismanagement that have led to economic collapse and widespread migration.