US President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning, insisting that the United States would conduct more strikes if the country does ’not behave’
US President
Donald Trump issued a fresh warning, insisting that the United States would conduct more strikes on
Venezuela if the country does “not behave” . While speaking to the reporters on board Air Force One, Trump said that Washington is prepared to launch a “second wave of attacks” if the country’s leadership fails to comply with American demands.
Trump went on to declare that the United States was effectively “in charge” of the Latin American nation following the lethal strikes on its capital, Caracas and the capture of President
Nicolas Maduro. When asked about his plans, Trump told reporters that the United States will now focus on “getting Venezuela fixed” and made it clear that the US forces would not hesitate to act again.
“If they do not behave, we will carry out a second strike on Venezuela,” he said, adding that the US was ready for another operation but hoped it would not be necessary. “Don’t ask me who’s in charge because I’ll give you an answer and it’ll be very controversial,” he exclaimed, reiterating that Washington now effectively controlled the situation on the ground.
The plan that was held back
Recalling the planning process, Trump said that the US had been ready to carry out a second wave of the operation, but held back for now. “We were prepared for a second wave, we were all set to go, but I don’t think we will need it,” he said, while warning that fresh action remained an option.
He also confirmed the report that one
US helicopter was badly hit during the operation. However, he made it clear that all personnel were recovered safely. “Nobody was killed,” he said, adding that injured service members were “all in good shape.” Trump went on to describe Venezuela as a “dead country” and blamed it on the years of mismanagement for its collapse.
He also targeted the country’s acting President
Delcy Rodriguez and demanded “total access” to the country’s vast energy reserves. “The oil is flowing at a very low level,” he said, adding that the US needed “full access to oil and other resources in Venezuela.’
“We need big investments from the oil companies to bring back the infrastructure. The oil companies are ready to go and rebuild it,” Trump explained, noting that the US firms had originally built much of Venezuela’s oil infrastructure before it was taken away by the then-administration.
According to The Guardian, the US has a 15,000-strong force in the Caribbean and has warned that Washington could intervene again if interim president Delcy Rodríguez does not comply with the American demands. Trump maintained that Washington’s primary focus remains on “getting Venezuela fixed” rather than electoral politics and insisted elections would be held “at the right time”.
How Venezuela is reacting to the threats
Meanwhile, the acting Venezuelan president opted for a milder tone towards Trump’s warnings. She extended an invitation to the United States government to collaborate on an “agenda of cooperation.” The Rodríguez said that the agenda would be aimed at “shared development, within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence.”
Rodríguez said Venezuela will “prioritise” moving toward “balanced and respectful international relations” with the US and the region. “President Donald Trump: our people and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war. This has always been President Nicolás Maduro’s message, and it is a message of all Venezuela right now,” she said. “Venezuela has the right to peace, to development, to sovereignty and to a future,” she added.
In Venezuela, senior government and military leaders demanded Maduro’s return but pledged support for Rodríguez as a stand-in leader. Defence Minister
Vladimir Padrino López urged citizens to resume normal life even as he accused the US of “imperial aggression”. He also mentioned that several soldiers and civilians were killed in the American operation. Overall, the political climate of Venezuela remains tense.
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