In a stunning declaration that has sent shockwaves across the globe, former US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the United States would now be running the affairs of Venezuela. This blunt statement confirmed that Washington had not only ousted and seized President Nicolas Maduro on charges of narco-terrorism but had effectively captured the sovereign nation and its vast oil reserves.
Oil Wealth and "Donroe Doctrine" Drive US Action
In a transparent explanation of Washington's motivations, Trump made no secret that exploiting Venezuela's immense oil wealth was a primary objective. He asserted that the country's energy reserves, the largest in the world, rightfully belonged to US companies that had helped develop the industry before socialist regimes took over. "We are going to make a lot of money. They stole our oil…we built that industry and they took over," Trump stated during a press briefing on the raid that abducted Maduro.
He promised the US would share the oil wealth with the Venezuelan people. Flanked by key cabinet members, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump forcefully showcased US hegemony in the region. He invoked a revamped Monroe Doctrine, which he referred to as the "Donroe Doctrine," claiming it had superseded the old policy. The leaders issued stark warnings to other socialist adversaries in the region, specifically naming Colombia and Cuba, telling them to "watch their ass."
A New Governing Structure and Stark Warnings
Trump outlined that Venezuela would be governed by a team led by Hegseth and Rubio, working in coordination with Maduro's former vice-president, Delcy Rodriguez. Rodriguez has been sworn in as the new President and, according to Trump, has agreed to follow the American line. The former US President left no room for ambiguity regarding future military involvement, stating the US was not afraid to put boots on the ground if required and would run the country "till such time there is a safe, proper, and judicious transition."
He warned of an even greater show of force if any resistance emerged, adding, "We can’t take a chance that someone else takes over who does not have Venezuela’s interest in their heart." Defense Secretary Hegseth, commenting on Maduro's fate, crudely remarked that the ousted leader had "effed around and found out" what happens to those who defy the United States.
A Message to the World and Regional Adversaries
The raid, presented as an operation to bring an alleged narco-terrorist to justice, was also clearly aimed at sending a powerful message to foreign adversaries worldwide. Without directly naming China, which has made significant economic and oil inroads into Venezuela recently, Trump indicated that Saturday's actions were meant to assert that US core interests and dominance in the Western Hemisphere would never be questioned again.
The warnings to other nations were explicit. Trump and his principals stated that other countries in the region should expect similar US action if they did not toe Washington's line. Referring to Colombia's leader Gustavo Petro, Trump accused him of running "cocaine mills" and reiterated that he needed to be cautious. Secretary Rubio, of Cuban heritage, also put Havana on notice, dismissing its leadership as "senile, incompetent men."
This dramatic move marks a significant escalation in US foreign policy, openly linking regime change with the seizure of natural resources and serving as a stark reminder of Washington's willingness to enforce its political and economic will in its traditional sphere of influence.
