In an Oval Office interview with The New York Times, President Donald J. Trump stated the U.S. government could run Venezuela for years while his administration is working on future plans for the South American country. Trump says part of that agenda is to funnel oil sales into “meaningful development in Venezuela.”
Trump said he planned to rebuild Venezuela in a “very profitable way. We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil. We’re getting oil prices down, and we’re going to be giving money to Venezuela, when they desperately need.”
During the interview, The New York Times pressed Trump for a time frame to oversee the South American country, six month, a year, or longer? The president replied, “I would say much longer.”
Interim Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodriguez has reportedly been on conversations with the Trump administration concerning what will happen next. U.S. Special Forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. He is facing narco-terrorism charges in the U.S.
Trump has been touting his “Donroe Doctrine,” a play on words referring to the Monroe Doctrine declaring the United States as “the dominant power in the hemisphere.”
On Wednesday, Trump invited Colombian President Gustavo Petro to the White House to ease tensions that have increased between the leaders since the strike on Venezuela. Reports for The New York Times, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance were present when the call was placed. Trump stated Petro called to discuss the drug situation and other disagreements they have had.
Sunday, Trump indicated Columbia may next on his agenda. On social media, Petro urged Colombians to “defend our national sovereignty” as wells as his government’s role prosecuting international drug trafficking.
Selling Venezuelan Oil
China, the largest purchaser of Venezuelan oil, is making a swift transition to electric vehicles. This means the country will likely be able to purchase the oil it needs from Iran or Russia. Experts believe China has either reached “peak oil” or will soon, according to CNN.
The Trump administration has demanded Rodriguez sever Venezuelan ties with China, Russia, Cuba, and Iran and partner with the United States concerning oil production. The Chinese Foreign Ministry told CNN the relationship between Venezuela and China is “legitimate and inline with the interests of both sides. Their cooperation is unrelated to any third party, nor is it subject to third-party interference.”
China’s Oil Relationships
China is the world’s largest importer of oil. There will be a global ripple effect in the oil market as the United States doubles down on drilling oil and China is focused on electric vehicles and renewables. Currently, China owns the EV market. Out of the 18.5 million electric vehicles sold around the globe, 11 million were sold in China, according to research conducted by Rho Motion. Additionally, China is the world’s largest seller of EVs.
According to the vice president of commodity market research at Norwegian energy firm Rystad, Janiv Shah, China imports 400,000 to 500,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil per day. The South American country only supplies a portion of China’s oil imports. Venezuela needs their business, however, China does not need Venezuela.
The U.S. intervention in Venezuela only reinforces China’s drive toward energy independence. Last year, CNN reported China was building 510 gigawatts of utility-scale solar and wind capacity. This was an addition to the 1,400 gigawatts already operable. In September, China was working to build more, planning to increase deployed solar and wind power to 3,600 gigawatts. This is six-times more than the country had in 2020. China is also pushing to build nuclear power plants and fusion energy. This would give the country almost unlimited sources of clean energy.
It appears China is progressing into the future and Trump is leading the United States into the past.
By Jeanette Vietti
Sources:
POLITICO: US could run Venezuela for years, Trump says
CBS News: Senate advances war powers resolution to limit further Trump strikes on Venezuela
CNN: Trump wants to own Venezuela’s oil, but its largest oil customer is speeding toward clean energy
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