In his latest address to the press following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, US President Donald Trump made several remarks detailing the operation. Earlier today, US forces attacked Venezuela in a surprise midnight operation in a bid to thwart what the US has deemed narco-terrorism.
Maduro, who was on an American warship on the way to the US, will be brought to New York along with his wife to face charges as they have been indicted with several offenses, including Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy.
‘US will run Venezuela’
Trump said the United States would continue to oversee its involvement in Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” signalling an open-ended US role. “This was one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history,” Trump told reporters, adding that US air, land and sea forces were used in the operation. Trump said US forces had been prepared for a second, larger attack to capture Maduro, but that it was not necessary. He also said the United States would have large American oil companies go into Venezuela following Maduro’s arrest.
‘No American personnel was harmed in the operation’
Trump praised the US military for its “breathtaking speed, power, precision and competence”, describing the troops as “highly trained warriors” operating alongside US law enforcement. He said Venezuelan forces were “waiting for us” and in a “ready position”, but were “completely overwhelmed and very quickly incapacitated”. He added that no US personnel were killed and no equipment lost.
‘US has knocked out 97% of drugs coming in by sea’
Trump also claimed the US has “knocked out 97% of drugs coming in by sea”, alleging each drug boat kills 25,000 people on average. He said the capture of Maduro took place under cover of darkness. “No nation in the world could achieve what America achieved yesterday,” Trump said, adding that “the lights of Caracas were largely turned off”. “It was dark and it was deadly,” he said.
‘Vice President Delcy to make Venezuela great again’
Talking about the leadership change to take place in Venezuela, Trump claimed that Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez had been sworn in as president and was “willing to do what we think is necessary” to restore the country.
“I understand she was just sworn in, but she was, as you know, picked by Maduro. So, Marco is working on that directly. Just had a conversation with her, and she’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela
great again,” the American president was heard saying at the press conference on January 3rd.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday also brushed aside talks of Nobel Peace Prize-winning opposition leader Maria Corina Machado taking over as a potential interim leader of Venezuela. He clarified that Washington was working with deposed Nicolas Maduro’s vice president.
“I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country,” Trump told a news conference. “She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect,” Donald J trump said.
Reacting to Maduro’s capture, Machado on Saturday said that the “hour of freedom” had arrived for her country after President Nicolas Maduro was captured by the US forces. “Venezuelans, the HOUR OF FREEDOM has arrived!”