Venezuela to buy US goods under oil deal

• US attack put ‘stain’ on ties, says Venezuelan leader
   
• Interior minister reports 100 dead, dozens hurt in US attack

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Venezuela will purchase American products with revenue from its oil sales.

“I have just been informed that Venezuela is going to be purchasing ONLY American Made Products, with the money they receive from our new Oil Deal,” Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.

The president said the purchases will include agricultural products, medicine, medical devices and equipment to improve Venezuela’s grid and energy facilities, reports CNBC online.

Trump said Tuesday that Venezuela would turn over 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the US after the overthrow of President Nicolás Maduro. The oil will be sold at market prices, Trump said. The sales, if executed, would total more than $2 billion at oil’s Wednesday closing price.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Wednesday that the US will control Venezuela’s oil sales indefinitely. Trump also appeared to lift a threat to take military action against Venezuela’s neighbour Colombia. Trump invited Colombia’s leftist leader, whom he had previously called a “sick man”, to visit Washington.

“Only time will tell” how long the United States will oversee Venezuela, Trump said in an interview published on The New York Times. When asked by the newspaper if it would be three months, six months, a year or longer, Trump said: “I would say much longer.”

In Venezuela, interim leader Delcy Rodgriguez said Wednesday that US forces’ attack to depose her predecessor put a “stain” on the countries’ relations, but defended plans to sell oil to Washington. But she added it was “not unusual or irregular” to trade with the United States now, following the announcement by state oil firm PDVSA that it was in negotiations to sell crude to the US.

The US attack in Caracas left 100 people dead, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said. Thousands of people marched in Venezuela Wednesday to demand the release of Maduro, while an official video showed grieving relatives mourning those killed in the attack.