Trump Announces Planned Visit to Venezuela After Maduro’s Removal

More than a month after a US military operation that removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores from power, US President Donald Trump has announced plans to visit Venezuela.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump said he has a “very good relationship” with Venezuela’s current interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed leadership following Maduro’s removal. However, he did not specify a date for the visit.

“I am going to Venezuela. I have a very good relationship with the current president,” Trump said. “Under her leadership, the United States is working closely with the country in oil production and marketing. I would rate the current US-Venezuela relationship ten out of ten.”

When asked whether Washington formally recognizes Rodríguez’s government, Trump replied, “Yes, of course. We already have. We are in regular contact with them, and at this moment they are carrying out their responsibilities very well.”

Venezuela holds some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the country has at least 303 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves—about one-fifth of the global total. Venezuela also has significant gold reserves.

Relations between Trump and Maduro had long been strained. During his first term in office beginning in 2016, Trump imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector, measures that remained in place under his successor, Joe Biden.

On January 4, US forces carried out a military operation in Caracas, transporting Maduro and Flores to New York City, where they now face drug trafficking charges in US federal court. Both are currently being held in a federal detention facility pending trial.

Following the operation, Trump said the United States would oversee Venezuela’s oil resources and assign American companies to manage oil extraction and sales. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that the United States would control Venezuela’s oil resources for an indefinite period.

Hours after Maduro’s removal, Rodríguez assumed the role of acting president under an order from Venezuela’s Supreme Court. In a recent interview, she said her government has reached a diplomatic understanding with Washington on oil and political issues. However, she insisted that Venezuela has not surrendered its sovereignty to the United States and maintained that Maduro remains the country’s legitimate president.