U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that the United States is not at war with Venezuela, following Washington’s recent military intervention in the country to arrest President Nicolás Maduro.
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In an interview with NBC News, Trump stated that “Venezuela will not hold new elections within the next 30 days.” Meanwhile, Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s deputy, was sworn in on Monday as the country’s interim president.
Trump also mentioned that the U.S. government may compensate oil companies investing in Venezuela to maintain and increase oil production. He added that rebuilding the neglected oil extraction and shipping infrastructure could take less than 18 months, according to the Associated Press.
“I believe we could accomplish it even faster, but it would require enormous funding,” Trump said, noting that oil companies would initially spend the money and be reimbursed by the U.S. government or through revenues.
However, the pace of investment remains uncertain due to political instability in Venezuela and the massive expenditures required, estimated in the billions of dollars.
Maduro appeared in a New York court on Monday, pleading not guilty to charges related to drug trafficking, two days after his arrest along with his wife in Caracas.
“I am innocent, not guilty,” said Maduro, 63, asserting that he was arrested at his home in Caracas and still considers himself the president of Venezuela. Speaking in Spanish, he added: “I am the president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and I have been kidnapped here since Saturday, January 3rd.”
During the interview with NBC News, Trump indicated that he would not need congressional approval to redeploy U.S. forces to Venezuela. However, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned that the president’s actions in Venezuela represent the start of a dangerous foreign policy approach, amid Trump’s open interest in U.S. stakes in Greenland and other countries.
Schumer stated on Monday: “Whenever the U.S. engages in regime-change attempts, American families pay the price in blood and money.” He added: “The American people did not sign up for another endless war.”
