United States Energy Secretary Chris Wright has visited Venezuela to meet with interim President Delcy Rodriguez, as his country pushes forward with plans for more foreign oil investment in the region.
Wednesday’s meeting marked the first time a member of President Donald Trump’s cabinet has visited Venezuela.
Overall, it was a rare instance of a high-level US official visiting the South American country, given the fractious ties Washington has had with Venezuela’s socialist government.
But Wright struck an optimistic note as he spoke at a news conference with Rodriguez that was broadcast on Venezuelan state television.
“It is an honour to stand here with you today and to be among the tremendous people of Venezuela,” Wright said.
He then proceeded to acknowledge the tensions in recent decades between the two countries.
But Wright hinted at change under the Trump administration. He also indicated the US president would take a hemisphere-wide approach to his campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again”.
“Our countries share a long history. It has gone through different chapters, as all relationships do,” Wright said.
A new era of expansion
Trump has repeatedly outlined his vision for a new era of “manifest destiny“, a 19th-century doctrine that champions US expansionism.
Already, he has quipped about implementing the “Donroe Doctrine”, his version of the Monroe Doctrine, a 19th-century foreign policy platform that designates the entire Western Hemisphere as the US’s sphere of influence.
Part of that push has been to bring countries throughout the Americas in line with US policy, whether through economic pressure, diplomatic efforts or military action.
An example of the latter came on January 3, when Trump authorised an early-morning military operation to attack Venezuela and abduct its then-leader, President Nicolas Maduro.
The Venezuelan leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, were then transported by military aircraft to New York. They are expected to stand trial on drug-trafficking charges in March.
Claiming Venezuela’s oil
Trump has also made sweeping claims to Venezuela’s oil industry.
In his initial speech following the military operation, Trump reiterated claims that the country’s petroleum resources belonged to the US, as a result of early oil exploration from companies like Exxon Mobil.
Trump argued that Venezuela’s efforts to nationalise its oil industry amounted to the “largest theft of property in the history” of the US.
“Venezuela unilaterally seized and sold American oil, American assets and American platforms, costing us billions and billions of dollars,” Trump said. “They took all of our property. It was our property. We built it.”
He emphasised that his country, not Venezuela, should control the local oil reserves, though international law states otherwise.
Multiple international resolutions and covenants outline that nations have permanent sovereignty over their own natural resources.
“We built Venezuela’s oil industry with American talent, drive and skill. And the socialist regime stole it from us during those previous administrations,” Trump said on January 3.
Since then, Trump has announced that Venezuela has turned over nearly 50 million barrels of oil to the US. That oil, Trump explained, is slated to be sold at market price for the benefit of both the US and Venezuela.
“That money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America,” Trump wrote online.
Source: Aljazeera