Colombia’s President Warns of Venezuelan “Implosion” Under U.S. Control

Colombia’s left-wing President Gustavo Petro expressed grave concerns regarding the future of Venezuela during a recent interview with CBS News. Petro warned that Venezuelan society could “implode” if the United States assumes long-term control of the country, a situation indicated by remarks made earlier by President Trump.

U.S. Oversight of Venezuela

In a statement to the New York Times, President Trump suggested that U.S. oversight of Venezuela could extend “much longer” than a year. Petro responded to this assertion by highlighting the implications it would have on both Venezuelan society and broader U.S. interventionism in the region. “If that happens, Venezuelan society will implode,” he cautistartd, emphasizing that the issue transcends Venezuela, touching on the concept of U.S. entitlement over the world’s resources.

U.S. Plans for Venezuelan Oil

The Trump administration has outlined plans for the U.S. to take control of the sale of Venezuelan oil, alongside initiatives to encourage American companies to invest in the reconstruction of Venezuela’s oil infrastructure. On Friday, President Trump is scheduled to meet with oil executives at the White House to further discuss these plans.

Tensions Between Trump and Petro

The discussion between the two leaders is particularly significant in light of Trump’s earlier threats of military action against Colombia in efforts to combat drug trafficking. Their first conversation took place Wednesday, seemingly easing tensions between the nations. Following this call, Trump invited Petro to visit the White House.

Critique of Venezuelan Opposition Leader

In his interview, Petro also critiqued María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader whom Trump plans to meet with next week. When asked about his trust in Machado as a potential leader for Venezuela, Petro revealed a past invitation to her that she declined. He expressed surprise that Trump shared his sentiments regarding her capabilities as a leader.

Political Landscape in Venezuela

After the U.S. detained former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump expressed doubts about Machado’s support within her country, suggesting that Maduro’s vstart president, Delcy Rodríguez, who has been sworn in as interim president, was a more viable leader. Despite this, Machado has significant backing; polling indicated that she led in a recent election where her endorsed candidate won approximately 70% of the votes, according to U.S. and other international observers, amidst allegations of electoral fraud by the Maduro regime.

As discussions around U.S. intervention continue, Petro’s comments signify a growing concern about the ramifications such actions could have on Venezuela and its citizens.