After capturing and indicting deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the US has indicated that it has its eye on the South American country's oil industry.
Speaking to Fox News, US President Donald Trump said the US will be "very strongly involved" in Venezuela's oil industry.
"We have the greatest oil companies in the world, the biggest and the best, and we’re going to be very much involved in it," he said.
Vice President JD Vance said Trump had "offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States."
"Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says," Vance posted on X.
It should be noted that the US spared the Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A (PDVSA), the Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural gas company, while carrying out airstrikes on Venezuela.
In December, the US blockaded oil tankers entering or leaving the country, besides seizing two cargoes of Venezuelan oil.
Interestingly, Maduro was captured just a day after he said Venezuela is ready to discuss a drug-trafficking deal and oil investments with the US.
"The US government knows, because we've told many of their spokespeople, that if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, we're ready," he said. "If they want oil, Venezuela is ready for U.S. investment, like with Chevron, whenever they want it, wherever they want it and however they want it."
He also alleged that the US wants to change the regime in Venezuela so that it can access the oil reserves in the country. It is clear the U.S. wants "to impose themselves through threats, intimidation and force," he said.
