The Daily Journal. — U.S. President Donald Trump defended the January military operation against Nicolás Maduro on Tuesday during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and celebrated the recent energy agreement with Caracas, declaring before the international body that “to the victor belong the spoils.”
During his address at the UN headquarters, Trump recalled the armed operation that led to the arrest of the former Venezuelan leader, whom he described as “a dictator and a real criminal,” in front of the Venezuelan delegation headed by Delcy Rodríguez.
“In January, under my orders, the United States military carried out a massive military operation that penetrated deep into the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, descended on a heavily defended and fortified military base — one that was supposedly impregnable to any attack — and arrested the outlaw criminal, dictator and real criminal, Nicolás Maduro,” the U.S. president stated.
Trump claimed that, following the military intervention, “hundreds of Venezuelan political prisoners have been released” and that his administration is working “closely with Venezuela’s leaders to forge a much better future for the Venezuelan people.”
On the economic front, Trump emphasized the energy agreement signed in late August, which grants the White House control over one-fifth of Venezuela’s proven crude oil reserves.
“Last month, we signed the largest oil deal in history, covering 65 billion barrels of oil, which will enormously benefit both Venezuela and the United States and help reduce energy costs around the world,” he declared.
The Republican leader maintained that major global oil corporations are already entering the Caribbean nation and highlighted the combined weight of both countries in the international energy market.
“When you put the United States and Venezuela together, we have more than 60% of the world’s oil, so it is perhaps the biggest deal,” he said.
“It was a war, but it is perhaps the biggest deal ever signed: to the victor belong the spoils,” Trump declared.
Trump also warned that his administration would not tolerate foreign actors or criminal organizations in the hemisphere.
“Our actions in Venezuela are proof that the United States will no longer allow threats to our nation to take root anywhere in the Western Hemisphere. And, if necessary, we will use our unmatched military might to protect our vital national interests,” he emphasized.
Trump made the remarks just hours before his scheduled informal meeting, known as a pull-aside, with Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez in New York. The meeting will mark their first direct encounter since the U.S. military strikes on the Venezuelan capital.
