The United States says it will take control of Venezuela’s transition following the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro.
Politics Nigeria reports that President Donald Trump made the declaration on Saturday after a U.S. military action in the country led to Maduro’s capture.
Trump said Washington would oversee Venezuela’s affairs as new leadership emerges. He explained that the move was meant to prevent what he described as another harmful takeover that could hurt ordinary citizens.
According to him, the decision was taken to protect the future of the country and restore stability.
Speaking at a press briefing, Trump said, “We can’t take a chance that somebody else takes over Venezuela that doesn’t have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind,” as he defended the U.S. position.
The U.S. President also spoke at length about Venezuela’s oil sector. He described it as failing and blamed years of mismanagement for the collapse.
Trump said American energy companies would now step in to rebuild damaged facilities and revive production. He stated that U.S. firms would invest heavily, repair broken oil infrastructure, and return profitability to the sector.
Trump issued a warning to political and military leaders in Venezuela. He said the fate of Maduro should serve as a lesson.
According to him, anyone attempting to resist the new direction could face similar consequences.
Declaring a turning point for the country, Trump said, “Venezuelan people are free again,” adding that the operation had also strengthened America’s global standing. He said the United States was now a “safer” and “prouder nation.”
The U.S. Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, also addressed journalists on the operation. He described it as “a massive joint military and law enforcement raid, flawlessly executed“ and praised the coordination involved.
Hegseth said Maduro had ignored earlier warnings and diplomatic openings. In his words, Maduro “had his chance, just like Iran had their chance“, but he “effed around“.
However, the capture of Maduro marks a major shift in Venezuela’s long-running political crisis. The country has faced years of economic hardship, sanctions, and internal unrest under his leadership.
