Washington DC [US], January 8 (HBTV): US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) said Venezuela would purchase only American-made products using the funds it receives from a new oil deal with the United States.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the purchases would include American agricultural products, medicines, medical devices and equipment to improve Venezuela’s electric grid and energy facilities.
‘I have just been informed that Venezuela is going to be purchasing only American-made products with the money they receive from our new oil deal. These purchases will include, among other things, American agricultural products, and American-made medicines, medical devices and equipment to improve Venezuela’s electric grid and energy facilities. In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of America as their principal partner — a wise choice, and a very good thing for the people of Venezuela and the United States,’ Trump said.
The statement comes days after the US launched what Trump described as a ‘large-scale strike’ in the Venezuelan capital Caracas to capture the country’s former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Maduro and Flores were flown out of the country in a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and US law enforcement. They were indicted on charges of alleged drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies in the Southern District of New York and are currently facing trial.
Following their capture, Delcy Rodriguez, who served as Venezuela’s Vice President under Maduro, officially assumed the role of acting president, according to CNN.
Earlier on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration was in ‘close correspondence’ with Venezuela’s interim authorities and asserted that their decisions continued to be shaped by US engagement and influence.
‘The Trump administration is in close correspondence with the interim authorities in Venezuela. We obviously have maximum leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela right now. Their decisions are going to continue to be dictated by the United States,’ Leavitt said.
Trump had earlier said the interim authorities in Venezuela would turn over between 30 and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States. He added that while the oil would be sold at market prices, the proceeds would be controlled by the US to ensure they are used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States.
(ANI)