"Only time will tell," President Donald Trump stated in an interview on 7/1, addressing how long his administration intended to demand direct oversight of Venezuela. When asked specifically whether it would be 3 months, 6 months, or one year, he responded it would be "much longer" and declared the US would reconstruct Venezuela in a "highly profitable" manner.

"We will take and use oil, drive down oil prices, and provide money to Venezuela, which they desperately need," the US President said.

Trump asserted that the US had already begun to earn money by taking oil resources that were under sanctions. The US leader referred to a statement on 6/1, when he said Venezuela would hand over 30-50 million barrels of heavy crude oil to the US for sale at market prices.

However, President Trump did not provide a specific timeframe for this process, acknowledging it would take years to revive Venezuela's stagnant oil industry. "The oil issue will take some time," he said.

Tong thong Donald Trump tai khu nghi duong Mar-a-Lago o Florida hom 3/1. Anh: AP

President Trump emphasized that the US was "very much in harmony" with the Venezuelan government led by interim President Delcy Rodriguez, adding that Caracas was providing everything Washington needed and expressed his intention to visit Venezuela in the future.

Trump made the statement after US officials announced their intention to control Venezuela's oil trade "indefinitely." This is part of a three-phase plan presented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the US Congress.

Most Republican lawmakers supported the government's actions, while Democrats continued to warn that the US intended long-term foreign intervention without clear legal authority.

President Trump discussed investing in Venezuelan oil fields with US businesses, but many parties remained hesitant. They believe the US might lose influence in Venezuela after Trump leaves office, or that the host country's military and intelligence agencies would obstruct the plan.

The interim Venezuelan President has given mixed signals regarding her willingness to cooperate with the US. AFP news agency noted that Rodriguez appeared concerned about maintaining support from hardliners, who control Venezuela's security forces and militias.

By Pham Giang (Reuters, AFP)