Trump Pledges to Impose U.S. Rule Over Venezuela: Stresses Attacks Were Show of Force Against Other Adversaries

Following an unprecedented military operation targeting Venezuelan military sites and critical infrastructure, and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. Army Delta Force operators, the United States has provided details on plans for the future of the country. Speaking at a press conference, Trump administration officials presented the operation as a show of force, stressing that other world leaders could similarly face abduction by U.S. forces if the policies were seen to conflict with Washington’s interests. President Trump specifically hinted that Colombian President Gustavo Francisco Urrego could be targeted if he was not cautious in the near future, “so he does have to watch his ass,” he warned. State Secretary Marcio Rubio similarly warned: “Don't play with Trump, you won't be able to handle this game.”

In the aftermath of the successful operation against Venezuela, President Trump warned that it “should serve as warning to anyone who would threaten American sovereignty or endanger American lives." “We take very seriously the establishment of American dominance in the Western Hemisphere. This relates to our security, our freedom, our prosperity. This is the approach of "America First". This is peace through strength, and the Department of War is proud to participate in this,” he added. President Trump added that theU.S. would “stay” in Venezuela and run the country for an unspecified amount of time. “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition. So we don’t want to be involved with having somebody else get in and we have the same situation that we had for the last long period of years,” he said. 

“So we are going to run the country until such time is we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition, and it has to be judicious, because that’s what we’re all about. We want peace, liberty and justice for the great people of Venezuela, and that includes many from Venezuela that are now living in the United States and want to go back to their countries, their homeland.”

The Venezuelan Socialist Party currently remains in power, with the Untied States’ possible plans to overthrow it and impose its own governance remaining in question.