They surrendered - We are selling Venezuela's oil - Control will last for several years - Trump tells the New York Times

US President Donald Trump revealed in a special discussion held in the Oval Office of the White House with the New York Times that Venezuela's governance has been brought completely under direct American supervision, and that this control will last not only for the next few months but for many years.

The President pointed out that America hopes to extract oil from Venezuela's massive oil reserves and release it to the world market, and that this can be considered a recovery of resources lost by American companies when Venezuela nationalized the oil industry in 1976.

When journalists asked how long American control would last, Trump stated, "Only time will tell," and this statement is considered very crucial given the backdrop of a fleet of American warships stationed near the country's offshore limits.

Trump said he hopes to rebuild Venezuela very profitably, stating, "We are ready to use oil and get oil. We will lower oil prices and give Venezuela the money it desperately needs." Hours before this discussion, American administration officials had revealed that a plan was underway for the US to acquire the right to sell Venezuela's oil indefinitely. This is being implemented as part of a three-phase plan presented to Congress by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, Democratic members of Congress have warned that the US is heading towards a long-term international intervention without clear legal authority.

During this nearly two-hour interview with President Trump, he also commented on Venezuela's future political authority. Specifically, Trump did not directly explain why Delcy Rodriguez, former Vice President to Nicolas Maduro, was accepted as the new leader instead of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who won the 2024 election and the Nobel Peace Prize, or her representative Edmundo Gonzalez. However, he mentioned that individuals connected to Maduro's government are currently providing full cooperation to the United States. Trump stated, "They are giving us anything we feel we need," confirming that they have submitted to the US and that the US Secretary of State is constantly in discussions with Delcy Rodriguez.

The President also spoke with great pride about the military operation named 'Operation Absolute Resolve', which was launched on January 2nd, and its success. This operation, which succeeded in apprehending former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, involved training using a replica of Maduro's house built at a military base in Kentucky. Although about 70 Venezuelan and Cuban nationals died during this military action, Trump emphasized that unlike failed events such as the 1980 Iran hostage rescue mission or the recent Afghanistan withdrawal, this was a very well-planned and successfully completed operation. He said, "You know, there was no Jimmy Carter disaster here where helicopters crashed. And there was no Biden's Afghanistan disaster here where even the simplest operation couldn't be carried out."

A special incident during this interview was Colombian President Gustavo Petro calling Trump on the phone. A few days prior, Trump had threatened Colombia, accusing it of acting as a drug hub. However, this phone conversation appeared to ease the tension between the two countries, and Trump, appreciating Petro's effort to explain the situation of rural cocaine production facilities, invited him to Washington. Trump believes that the overthrow of the Maduro regime has led other leaders in the region to obey American commands.

Although Trump stated that there are plans to purchase 30 to 50 million barrels of crude oil from Venezuela, it is also mentioned that American oil companies are very cautious about investing due to the country's instability and future political changes. Trump, acknowledging that it would take years to restore the oil sector, stated, "It will take some time for oil." The President consistently refused to provide a specific answer regarding the date of an election in Venezuela or how long American troops would remain there. Responding to the question of whether American troops would be deployed if Venezuela failed to remove Russian and Chinese military personnel, he said, "I can't tell you that. I really don't want to tell you that. But they treat us with great respect."

Trump, who described the overthrow of Maduro's regime as an essential step to stop drug trafficking and establish regional stability, also said he hopes to visit Venezuela in the future. He finally stated, "I think at some point the country will become safe."