> At a Glance
> – President Trump warned Delcy Rodríguez she’ll “pay a very big price” if she doesn’t comply with U.S. demands
> – Maduro and his wife were captured during a U.S. military operation on January 3
> – Trump demands “total access” for U.S. oil companies to Venezuela’s reserves
> – Why it matters: The U.S. has effectively taken control of Venezuela’s government and resources
President Trump has issued a stark warning to Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, demanding American control over the country’s oil reserves and threatening severe consequences for non-compliance.
The Capture and Warning
Following the armed U.S. intervention that captured Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in the early hours of January 3, Trump told The Atlantic on January 4 that Rodríguez faces dire consequences.
Trump stated:
> “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.”
The president confirmed that while he hasn’t spoken directly to Rodríguez, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has communicated with her. According to Trump, Rodríguez told Rubio: “We’ll do whatever you need.”
U.S. Demands and Military Action
Trump outlined specific demands for Venezuela’s new leadership:
- Grant U.S. oil companies “total access” to Venezuela’s natural reserves
- Complete compliance with U.S. directives
- Acceptance of American oversight of Venezuelan operations
The U.S. military conducted airstrikes on multiple Venezuelan sites, including:
- Fuerte Tiuna military base
- La Carlota airbase
- El Volcán signal antenna site
- La Guaira Port on the Caribbean coast
Trump declared at Mar-a-Lago:
> “We’re going to run the country until such time that we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition. We’re going to get the oil flowing the way it should be.”
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. has effectively seized control of Venezuela’s government after capturing Maduro
- Trump demands American companies receive complete access to Venezuelan oil reserves
- Military operations targeted key Venezuelan infrastructure sites
- The Trump administration plans to maintain control until a “judicious transition” can occur
- No American casualties were reported during the military operation
The operation marks a dramatic escalation in U.S.-Venezuela relations, with America now directly controlling the oil-rich nation’s resources and government operations.
