U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the U.S. has “enormous leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela” as a result of Washington’s control of Caracas‘ oil industry.
Speaking to NBC News’ Kristen Welker in Caracas, Wright said that while “the Venezuelans are in charge here in Venezuela,” the Trump administration “has enormous leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela — the largest revenue source that funds the government, that funds the government of Venezuela is now controlled by the United States.”
“If they’re driving positive change that benefits Americans and is improving the life opportunities of people in Venezuela, that money will flow. If they steer off that path, we have just simply tremendous leverage,” he added.
Welker also interviewed Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who rejected the notion that Caracas is under U.S. tutelage. “I can tell you I am in charge of the presidency of Venezuela, as it’s stated clearly in the constitution of Venezuela. And from the amount of work that I have, from how busy I am, I can tell you it’s very, very hard work and we’re doing it completely day by day,” she said.
Elsewhere in the interview Rodriguez said former authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are innocent and their imprisonment in the U.S. is unjustified.
Concretely, Rodriguez said “Maduro is the legitimate president” and “both President Maduro and Cilia Flores, the first lady, are both innocent.”
However, a recent report by The New York Times noted that allies of Maduro are stunned at Rodriguez’s grip on power following his capture by U.S. forces.
The outlet detailed that the recent detention of alleged Maduro frontman Alex Saab illustrates the changing political landscape in Venezuela. Rodriguez has also fired several officials considered to be loyal to Maduro and reduced his family’s access to power and government contracts.
Secretary Wright’s visit to Venezuela included meetings with Rodriguez and energy sector officials, as well as management reforms at the country’s national oil company Petróleos de Venezuela, or PdVSA.
“PdVSA was a highly professional, technically competent oil and gas company 30 years ago, and it hasn’t been one for quite some time,” Wright said, adding that he wants to “start the dialogue” on the company’s future leadership, while noting it remains “a Venezuelan company.”
President Donald Trump has said the U.S. aims to help rebuild Venezuela’s oil sector and suggested that could contribute to lower energy prices. Some industry executives have expressed caution about investing given political and security risks.
Originally published on Latin Times
