U.S. to Tap Venezuela’s Oil, Export Large Volumes After Maduro’s Arrest — Trump

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States will move to explore Venezuela’s vast oil reserves and sell large volumes to other countries following the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by American forces.

Speaking hours after a dramatic military operation that removed Maduro from power, Trump said Washington would temporarily oversee Venezuela’s affairs as part of efforts to stabilise the country and dismantle what he described as entrenched criminal networks.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were reportedly detained during a late-night operation in Caracas and transported aboard a U.S. military vessel before being flown to New York. They are expected to face charges related to alleged narco-terrorism and drug trafficking conspiracies.

The operation marks one of the most aggressive U.S. interventions aimed at regime change in decades and has reignited debate among legal experts over its compatibility with international law. U.S. officials, however, have defended the action, insisting it was necessary to stem the flow of illegal drugs and restore stability to the oil-rich South American nation.