New York Times: Maduro cedes Venezuela’s resources to the United States to ward off the specter of war
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has agreed to give up part of his country’s natural resources in exchange for easing U.S. pressure and staving off military action on his country.
The New York Times explained that “President Trump spoke in private meetings with his aides about Venezuela’s huge oil reserves, estimated at 300 billion barrels, which are the largest in the world, where he received an offer from President Maduro that would have granted the United States rights in a large part of it, without resorting to military action”.
The New York Times reported that Trump canceled those talks, but a senior administration official stated that the talks weren’t completely over and that the deployment of the aircraft carrier was a way to subdue Maduro.
“Maduro’s proposal included granting US companies’ preferential privileges in accessing Venezuela’s vast reserves of hydrocarbons and other natural resources.
This was seen as an attempt to stabilize relations and ease tensions between the two countries, but the White House refused to negotiate because the terms included clauses that protected Maduro’s political future.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said earlier that the United States is seeking to wage war and regime change in Venezuela with the aim of seizing its natural resources.
The United States has long taken a hard line against Venezuela and its leadership, repeatedly criticizing Maduro and accusing his government of involvement in drug trafficking.
Between September and November, the United States used its military several times to destroy boats allegedly carrying drugs off the coast of Venezuela.
However, the US Congress questioned the legality of these operations without its approval.
