Trump admitted in a telephone interview with NBC journalist Kristen Welker that a lot of money would be needed to rebuild Venezuela's mining industry. However, he argued that he would compensate American companies for these expenses.
“It's going to take a lot of money and the oil companies are going to spend it and then they're going to get the money back from us or from the revenue,” Trump said. He assured that the current mining capacity could be expanded in less than 18 months. Trump admitted that even before the intervention, he talked to representatives of the companies, asking them if they would be willing to return to Venezuela.
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What are the details of the plan to rebuild Venezuela's oil sector?
Who was responsible for the arrest of Nicolas Maduro?
Why were US oil companies skeptical about investing in Venezuela?
What does Trump think about the Nobel Prize for Maria Corina Machado?
According to Bloomberg, Energy Secretary Chris Wright is scheduled to meet with representatives of oil companies this week. As NBC points out, so far these companies have been skeptical about the possibility of reinvesting in the country, including: due to political risk, the possibility of re-nationalization of the sector, or low oil prices. After the last wave of nationalization under Hugo Chavez, the only American company left in the country was Chevron.
However, Trump assured that companies are willing to invest in Venezuela and announced that they would contribute to maintaining low oil prices.
Trump on details of Maduro's arrest
The US president again stated in an interview that he is the one who in practice now rules Venezuela. He also assured that the exclusion of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado from the trial had nothing to do with the fact that she received the Nobel Peace Prize, not him. However, he added that she should not receive this award. Trump emphasized that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has good relations with Maduro's successor, Delcy Rodriguez.
The US president admitted that although many in the Maduro regime wanted to make a deal with him to remove Maduro from power, ultimately, he chose a different solution and the operation took place without the participation of the former leader's men.
Trump also downplayed criticism of the intervention in Venezuela from some of his supporters opposed to foreign interventions.
— MAGA loves it. MAGA loves what I do. MAGA loves everything I do. MAGA is me. “MAGA loves everything I do and I love everything I do too,” he concluded.
