US President Donald Trump announced that American oil companies that invest in the reconstruction of Venezuela's oil sector will receive compensation for their contribution. Meanwhile, a shooting took place in the capital of Caracas, near the Miraflores presidential palace.
US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday (Polish time) in an interview for NBC television that American oil companies that invest in the reconstruction of Venezuela's oil sector will receive compensation for their contribution. He argued that the revitalization of the industry could be achieved in less than 18 months.
“A lot of money will have to be spent and the oil companies will spend it and then they will get the money back from us or from the revenues,” 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.
The US president again stated in an interview that he is now practically ruling 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.
Shooting near the Miraflores presidential palace
Also on Tuesday, there was a shooting near the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, independent media reported, later adding that the situation had already been brought under control.
In short films broadcast by UHN Plus, numerous series of machine gun shots can be heard. So far, the Venezuelan authorities have not explained the circumstances of the incident. According to some Caracas residents who commented on the incident on social networks, the shooting was the result of drones appearing near the Miraflores Palace.
On the same day, the Venezuelan National Trade Union of Press Workers (SNTP) announced that at least seven journalists and media workers had been detained in the country. He assessed that democratic changes are impossible as long as persecution and censorship continue.
Most journalists were detained in and around the National Assembly premises; three were later released, SNTP reported on the X platform, calling for the release of the remaining detainees.
The Archdiocese of Merida canceled pilgrimages
In turn, the authorities of the Archdiocese of Merida, in western Venezuela, withdrew from organizing on Tuesday, the day of the Epiphany celebrated in the Church of the Epiphany, a popular pilgrimage among the faithful to the sanctuary of the Infant Jesus in Zea. They justified their decision by the state of emergency in force in the country since Saturday.
In a statement, the church authorities specified that the pilgrimage related to Epiphany was canceled due to “the inability to ensure optimal safety conditions for the thousands of believers who participate in this act of faith.” This holiday has been celebrated in the UAE for over 100 years.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro blamed the US administration for the murder
The daily “El Pais” reported, in turn, that in Saturday's US attack on Venezuela, a 45-year-old Colombian woman was killed and her daughter was injured when an American missile hit their house. Information about the woman's death was also reported by Colombian media, including the dailies “El Universal” and “El Colombiano”.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro blamed the US administration for the murder. He posted a long entry on the X platform in which he referred to the reports of the “El Universal” daily. He condemned the actions of the administration of US President Donald Trump and accused him of murdering an innocent Colombian woman under his “illegal orders”.
Meanwhile, Colombia's interior and justice ministers declared on Tuesday their readiness to cooperate with the US in combating drug smuggling. Their declaration is related to Saturday's capture by the US military of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who is accused by the US justice system of, among other things, supporting narco-terrorism.
As Interior Minister Armando Benedetti and Colombia's Justice Minister Andres Idarraga said in a joint statement, the country “confirms its readiness to coordinate actions with the United States in the fight against criminal organizations and drug cartels.”
Delcy Rodriguez officially sworn in as acting president
On Monday, in the National Assembly, the Venezuelan parliament, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was officially sworn in as acting president after the capture and deportation of current leader Nicolas Maduro by American forces.
In a separate statement published on Monday, SNTP demanded the release of 23 journalists and press workers detained in prisons and the resumption of the activities of over 60 media outlets censored by the Maduro regime.
“Progress towards democratic change is not possible as long as political persecution, censorship, arbitrary detentions and systematic violations of fundamental rights continue,” the journalists' trade union said in a statement.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Maduro supporters took to the streets of Caracas on Monday. They carried Venezuelan flags and banners with slogans of support for the deposed leader, CNN reported, recalling that the Venezuelan government regularly organized demonstrations to show alleged public support for its actions.
After Maduro was removed from power, the human rights organization Foro Penal demanded that the government in Caracas announce an amnesty for political prisoners. As she calculated, 863 people are in prison in the country for political reasons. (PAP)
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