Trump: We will run Venezuela during the transition and send our oil companies.

US President Donald Trump

Trump: We will run Venezuela during the transition and send our oil companies.

 US President Donald Trump announced that US forces carried out a major military operation in Venezuela this morning, which he described as "an attack the world has not seen since World War II," with the aim of arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and bringing them to US justice.

Trump indicated that the United States would control Venezuela until the end of the transitional phase, and that American companies would enter the Venezuelan market to work in the oil sector.

He also continued, saying: "We will strengthen the power and security of the Venezuelan people, and are ready for another attack if necessary."

Trump said the operation was a complete success, explaining that the Venezuelan army was left powerless and its military capabilities were completely paralyzed.

He added: "The US military carried out a fantastic operation, and no soldiers were killed or equipment lost during the operation."

Trump also revealed that Maduro and his wife were arrested at midnight on a ship and are now heading to New York to face justice, after being indicted on criminal charges.

He explained that the operation involved the use of air, land and sea forces, in addition to a power outage in the capital, Caracas, to facilitate the execution of the mission.

Drug trafficking

Trump asserted that Maduro was responsible for drug trafficking and smuggling into the United States, and that he sent drug cartels to terrorize Americans and threaten the people of the United States and the stability of the region.

He continued: "What happened in Venezuela was one of the most exciting displays of how strong our military is, and America is now the most respected country in the world."

The US president announced that US forces had successfully carried out the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, stressing that the operation was aimed at achieving justice and sending a warning message to all politicians in Venezuela.

Trump said: "The arrest of Maduro was for the sake of justice, and what happened to Maduro could happen to any politician in Venezuela."

"Warning to everyone"

Trump pointed out that the United States had built Venezuela's oil infrastructure, which had previously been stolen from it, adding: "The Maduro regime was supporting regimes that threatened American interests, and our influence has become much greater."

He also stressed that America will continue to secure its borders and will not allow criminals to operate with impunity, emphasizing: "The arrest of Maduro should be a warning to everyone."

Trump noted that the United States would work to manage Venezuela in a fair and transitional manner after the arrest of Maduro and his wife.

Trump said: "We will focus on Venezuela's oil infrastructure, we will take care of its people, and there will be American troops in the country if necessary."

Country administration

Trump explained that the US administration is currently talking to people to take over in Venezuela during the first phase, adding: "Rubio, Hegseth, and possibly the Chief of Staff will work with a team of Venezuelans to run the country."

He stressed that the goal is to ensure that Venezuela becomes a great nation again, and that its people enjoy peace, justice, and security.

Trump noted that the US military helped the Justice Department in the operation to arrest Maduro, adding: "We didn't tell Congress because they tend to leak information and that's not good," stressing that the operation was a complete success and that Maduro and his wife will be brought to New York to face justice.

He also emphasized the United States' record of achieving victories, saying, "Only with me do we achieve victories, and look at al-Baghdadi and Soleimani." He added, "My message to the people of Venezuela is that their country will be returned to them, and they will have peace, justice, and security."

He pointed to the expected economic role, saying: "We have great oil companies that will go to Venezuela, and we want to do everything necessary to ensure the country's prosperity and stability."

For his part, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described the operation as historic, saying: "No country in the world could have carried out the arrest of Maduro. We demonstrated the long arm of American justice, and our operation in Venezuela was for peace through strength."

A complex and daring operation

Meanwhile, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman James C. McConville added that the operation was complex and daring, and that all forces participated in it within a single framework to achieve the objective.

He said: "We started working months ago to figure out how Maduro moves. The intelligence agencies did a great job. We brought a force into the center of Caracas, and 150 aircraft participated in the operation. The weather conditions were important for the successful execution of the Maduro arrest operation."

The US Chief of Staff confirmed that the operation to arrest Maduro and his wife involved the use of bombers and drones to achieve the element of surprise, noting that US military forces were fired upon during the operation, but it was completely successful and they returned to their bases without any human or material losses.

McConville said: "What happened today was a powerful display of American strength. Our mission is to execute orders at the right time and place against any enemy in the world, and our forces will remain in the region to defend our interests."

He explained that Maduro and his wife were arrested by the US Department of Justice and will face justice on US soil.

"Trump is a president of peace"

For his part, Foreign Minister Marco Rubio stated that Maduro "is not the legitimate president of Venezuela," emphasizing that previous US administrations did not recognize him and that there is a reward for bringing him to justice. Rubio added that Maduro had taken Americans hostage inside Venezuela, asserting that Trump's statements are always translated into actions on the ground.

He concluded by saying, "Trump is a president of peace," referring to the success of the operation and its impact on the stability of the region and the interests of the United States.