Trump demands Venezuela cut ties with China and Russia
US President Donald Trump's administration has addressed interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez with a series of demands that the regime must meet if it wants to resume oil production and exports, ABC News reports.
The main condition is the severing of all economic relations with China, Russia, Iran and Cuba, and the conclusion of an exclusive partnership with the United States.
According to Senator Marco Rubio, Caracas is just weeks away from financial collapse - Venezuela's tankers are full and the country has nowhere to export oil.
Senator Roger Wicker confirmed that the US goal is control of Venezuelan oil, but the plan does not include military intervention.
Trump has announced that the interim Venezuelan authorities will hand over 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, which he will sell himself, with the proceeds to go "for the benefit of the people of Venezuela and the United States". The White House has not officially denied the plan.
From Washington's point of view, this is both a geopolitical and an economic move - the US wants to stem the flow of drugs, stop migration and strengthen its influence in the region at the same time.
(pir)