President Donald Trump stated this Friday (13) that the United States maintains a “very good relationship” with the interim dictator of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, and announced that he intends to visit the South American country, with no date set yet.
According to Trump, the bilateral “partnership” with Venezuela – especially in the oil sector – has advanced in a “solid” and “excellent” way in recent weeks. Trump told reporters at the White House that he and Delcy have “a very good relationship” and that they are “working very closely.” According to the American president, “the relationship we have now with Venezuela, I would say is a 10”.
Trump also stated that he intends to visit Venezuela, but did not say when that visit would take place. The president limited himself to telling reporters that “he will make the visit” and that “when it is not yet defined”.
When asked by journalists about the US recognition of the Delcy Rodríguez regime as the de facto government of Venezuela, Trump only responded that his government is “dealing” with the matter.
The president’s comments come in a context of intensification of commercial ties between Venezuela and the United States following the capture of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in January by American forces.
This week, United States Energy Secretary Chris Wright was in Venezuela, where he participated in meetings with Delcy Rodríguez about oil production and exports. Recently, the US expanded licenses so that foreign companies could operate in the Venezuelan oil sector, which is technically under American control.
Trump mentioned to reporters on Friday that countries are buying Venezuelan oil and that US refineries are processing much of that production.
