US President Donald Trump called Venezuela’s interim President, Delcy Rodríguez, a “terrific person” after speaking with her on the phone on Wednesday evening.
This was their first known direct conversation since US forces removed and captured Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, earlier this month. On January 3, a US raid on Caracas killed more than 80 people, including Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel and civilians.
“We had a call, a long call. We discussed a lot of things, and I think we’re getting along very well with Venezuela,” Trump told reporters.
In a post on Truth Social later, the US President said “tremendous progress” had been made, especially when it came to “oil, minerals, trade”, and “national security”.
“This partnership between the United States of America and Venezuela will be a spectacular one FOR ALL. Venezuela will soon be great and prosperous again, perhaps more so than ever before!” Trump wrote in his post.
Rodríguez also said the talks were “productive and courteous”, adding that the two leaders discussed a bilateral agenda aimed at benefiting both countries.
Also Read: Trump posts image claiming to be “Acting President of Venezuela”
The dialogue represents a shift in Venezuela’s stance after Rodríguez, a Maduro supporter, had declared defiantly that no “foreign agent” would control Venezuela or turn it into a “colony”.
Trump has been forthright in declaring his interest in Venezuelan oil, having begun seizing Venezuelan oil tankers in the Caribbean waters since September, last year.
After Maduro’s capture, Trump said Washington would “run” Venezuela during a transition phase and needed “total access” to the oil and “to other things in their country”.
US officials add that this control is “necessary to stabilise Venezuela’s economy” and to ensure that it “acts in both American and Venezuelan interests”.
The US has already declared South America to be in its sphere of influence, indirectly warning Russia and China.
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