In a recent interview with News Source, former President Donald Ramotar expressed his belief that U.S. military strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean, alongside the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, are part of a smokescreen aimed at gaining control of Venezuela’s oil wealth.
Ramotar asserted that it is increasingly clear that the U.S. aims to seize Venezuela’s natural resources, stating, “It seems to me that the more natural resources you have, the less independence you will have; the more danger your country is in.” He added that instead of helping to build the country, these resources appear to be exploited for the enrichment of a select few.
Venezuela is known to have the largest oil reserves in the world, estimated at 300 billion barrels as of 2023. Just three days after Maduro’s removal, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela would turn over between 30 and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the U.S. According to Trump, this oil, which has been held in storage due to U.S. sanctions, would be sold at market prices, with revenues purportedly aimed at benefiting both the Venezuelan people and the U.S.
However, Ramotar accused the U.S. of undermining Venezuela’s development through the imposition of sanctions that have crippled the nation’s economy and strangled its oil industry. He noted that these sanctions were reimposed ahead of the 2024 elections, justified by claims that Maduro had failed to implement electoral reforms. After the elections, several countries, including the U.S., refused to recognize Maduro as the legitimately elected president, labeling the elections a “sham.”
The former president also brought attention to allegations of U.S. political interference in the elections of sovereign nations. He questioned the credibility of Trump’s anti-drug stance, noting that just months prior, Trump pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who had been convicted of drug trafficking in the U.S. “How strong is his opinion on fighting drugs?” Ramotar questioned. “The biggest market for drugs is in the United States, and they have enormous resources to address the demand.”
With Maduro now ousted, Trump announced that the U.S. will oversee Venezuela until a proper transition occurs, during which Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has been sworn in as interim president. Ramotar’s remarks underscore the ongoing tensions surrounding U.S. involvement in Venezuelan politics and the implications for regional stability.
