Trump reveals plan to govern Venezuela after Maduro's arrest
In a significant development amid the rapidly unfolding events in Caracas, US President Donald Trump revealed the strategy the United States will pursue in dealing with the Venezuelan situation, following the military operation that led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. In firm statements to the press, Trump asserted that Washington will not hesitate to take further escalatory steps to ensure stability.
Washington's plan for managing the transitional phase
The US president clarified that the United States is about to assume direct and temporary control of Venezuela's affairs, with the aim of ensuring a safe and smooth political transition. In response to journalists' questions about the future of governance in the Latin American nation, Trump said, "We will run the country until we can have a safe, smooth, and rational transition." These statements confirm the US administration's intention to directly oversee the restructuring of Venezuelan institutions after years of estrangement and political tension.
Threats of ground intervention and a second wave
In a strongly worded warning, Trump asserted that the United States is "not afraid" to send ground troops into Venezuela if necessary. He revealed logistical details of the recent operation, indicating the presence of "very high-level U.S. forces on the ground" who contributed to the precise execution of their assigned tasks. The U.S. president also hinted at the possibility of a "second wave" of military strikes, describing it as potentially "much larger" if the situation does not stabilize according to the U.S. vision.
Background of the conflict and the strategic importance of Venezuela
These developments cannot be separated from the historical context of strained relations between Washington and Caracas. Venezuela possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, making its stability of paramount importance to global energy markets. In recent years, the country has suffered from a crippling economic crisis and hyperinflation, leading to the exodus of millions of its citizens to neighboring countries—a situation the United States has deemed a threat to regional security in the Western Hemisphere.
Expected impacts locally and regionally
This radical shift in the Venezuelan landscape is expected to have repercussions across the entire region. Domestically, the announced US plan aims to end the political deadlock and economic collapse, while the international community, particularly Latin American countries, is closely watching the interim US administration and how it will deal with the political legacy of the United Socialist Party. Observers believe that the success of the "safe transition" promised by Trump will depend heavily on the new administration's ability to restore oil production and establish internal security without descending into prolonged chaos.
