Is Venezuela’s oil now under US control? Trump reveals '50 million barrels' plan after Maduro's capture

US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that interim authorities in Venezuela will transfer between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States following the US military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that the “high quality, sanctioned” oil would be sold at market price and that the proceeds would be controlled by him as president to “ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States.”

“I have asked Energy Secretary Chris Wright to execute this plan, immediately,” he wrote. “It will be taken by storage ships, and brought directly to unloading docks in the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The announcement comes in the aftermath of a brazen US military operation on January 3 that resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas and their transfer to the United States to face federal drug-trafficking and narco-terrorism charges.

Maduro appeared in a Manhattan federal court on Monday and pleaded not guilty, insisting he remains Venezuela’s legitimate president.

In Maduro’s absence, Venezuela’s top court appointed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president.

The US President said Rodríguez had a long conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in which Trump claimed she said, “We'll do whatever you need.'”

“I think she was quite gracious,” Trump added. “We can't take a chance that somebody else takes over Venezuela that doesn't have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind.”

However, Rodriguez, who is no anti-Maduro figure, demanded that the United States free Maduro and called him the country's rightful leader.

Trump later told The Atlantic in a telephone interview that Rodríguez could “pay a very big price” if she doesn't do what he thinks is right for the Latin American country.

Trump has previously said the United States would “run” Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could be achieved.