President Donald Trump said early Friday that he had cancelled a “previously expected” second wave of attacks on Venezuela due to the country’s cooperation with the United States.
It comes nearly a week after he ordered a military operation to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is currently in US custody along with his wife Cilia Flores.
Shortly after that military operation, Trump said in a news conference, “We are ready to stage a second and much larger attack if we need to do so. … We actually assumed that a second wave would be necessary, but now it’s probably not.”
In Friday’s Truth Social post, Trump said the US and Venezuela are “working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure.”
“Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed, however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes,” he added.
During a meeting with oil executives Friday afternoon, the president said he didn’t think a second wave would be necessary, but again pointed to the US’ military buildup in the Caribbean Sea if circumstances were to change.
“I don’t think it’s going to be necessary. We have an armada, a giant armada, like nobody’s ever seen in that part of the world, and it’s stationed off the coast,” Trump said. He later added that he views Venezuela as an ally “right now” and thinks it will continue to be one.
Trump in his Truth Social post also noted that Venezuela was “releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of ‘Seeking Peace,’” adding, “This is a very important and smart gesture.”
Venezuela began releasing the high-profile prisoners on Thursday, including opposition politicians in an effort to “seek peace,” the acting government said.
Following the military operation last week, US officials had demanded, among other things, that Venezuela’s interim government release political prisoners, according to a source familiar with the US administration’s briefing with key lawmakers this week.
After the ousting of Maduro, Trump had also said the US would effectively “run” the country.
When asked by the New York Times how long the US aims to control Venezuela, whether it would be months, a year or longer, Trump replied, “I would say much longer.”
Trump also has not ruled out the possibility of longer-term military involvement, and said Thursday that his administration will soon begin actions to target cartels on land, following months of strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Trump has also said he would say hello to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado when she travels to Washington, DC, next week. He added in an interview with Fox News that it would be “a great honor” to share Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize after she suggested doing so.
The Senate on Thursday, however, delivered a symbolic rebuke to Trump over the operation in Venezeula, advancing a resolution that would limit future US military force in the country without Congress’ approval. Five Republicans joined all Senate Democrats in advancing the measure, which is expected to pass next week.
Trump meets with oil executives
Trump’s afternoon remarks came as he met with executives from major oil companies at the White House to persuade them to increase Venezuela’s oil output and make new investments in the country.
He claimed in his Truth Social post ahead of the meeting that “at least 100 Billion Dollars will be invested by BIG OIL,” but the oil industry has expressed serious skepticism about ponying up tens of billions of dollars over a decade to restore Venezuela’s oil infrastructure.
During the public portion of the meeting, executives did not commit to ramping up Venezuela exploration or operations. Trump appeared to remain optimistic, however, as he said he would continue his conversation with the industry leaders in private.
“So, if you don’t mind, I’ll ask the press to leave, and we will see what kind of a deal we’re going to make with these geniuses,” he said.
The vision for oil production laid out by senior Trump officials, led by Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, would represent an unprecedented exertion of control over a foreign country’s oil resources with no clear timetable or guarantee of success.
Wright told CNN on Wednesday that the administration was “still working out the logistics” of how it plans to sell the oil and deposit the proceeds.
SOURCE: CNN
