Trump States US Role in Venezuela Could Extend for Years

US Role in Venezuela

President Donald Trump has stated that "only time will tell" how long the United States' involvement in Venezuela will last, following the recent abduction of President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces. The Venezuelan interior minister reported that 100 people were killed during the operation.

In an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, Trump avoided providing a specific timeline for direct oversight of the South American nation, but indicated that it could take "much longer" than a year when pressed for an answer.

Since Maduro was forcibly removed last Saturday, the United States has repeatedly asserted its supremacy over Venezuela, declaring that it will control the country’s oil sales "indefinitely," despite interim leader Delcy Rodriguez's claims that there is no foreign power governing Caracas.

Trump mentioned that the United States has a "very good" relationship with Rodriguez's government, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio "talks to her all the time." He previously threatened her with a fate worse than Maduro's if she does not comply. The President did not elaborate on why he recognized Rodriguez as a leader over opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who successfully campaigned against Maduro in 2024 and has refused to commit to organizing new elections.

"We will rebuild the country [Venezuela] in a very profitable way," Trump asserted. "We will use the oil and we will take the oil. We will lower the oil prices and provide money to Venezuela, which they desperately need."

Operation Against Maduro

American forces abducted Maduro and his wife on Saturday in a dramatic attack involving 150 aircraft from 20 airbases, transporting them to New York to face drug and arms-related charges.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello stated on Wednesday that the raid left 100 people dead and dozens injured, adding that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were injured in the "terrible" attack but are recovering. Caracas had not previously communicated a death toll, but the army released a list of 23 deceased individuals, and Cuba announced that 32 members of its military and intelligence services in the country were killed.

Venezuelan officials claimed that a significant portion of Maduro's security contingent was killed "in cold blood." Rodriguez, whom Cabello praised during his weekly show on state television as "courageous," declared a week of mourning starting on Tuesday for the army members killed in the raid.