The White House Tells VOA That 'Main Communications' with Venezuela's Interim Officials Focus on Stabilizing the Country and Oil Cooperation

The White House told Voice of America that its communications with Venezuela's interim officials, following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, the dictator of Venezuela, by the U.S. this month for trial on charges of drug trafficking related to terrorism, are primarily focused on ensuring stability in the country and cooperation in the oil sector. Caroline Levitt, White House spokesperson, shared these remarks with reporters on Monday in response to a question from VOA about the long-standing presence of America's adversary, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and its terrorist proxy, Hezbollah, in Maduro's Venezuela. In response to VOA's question about what practical actions the White House expects from Caracas to stop Iran and Hezbollah's activities in Venezuela, Levitt said, "Right now, the main communications with interim officials are really focused on ensuring stability and prosperity as well as continuing cooperation in the energy sector." Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, said on January 4, one day after Maduro's arrest, to CBS that the United States expects the interim officials replacing Maduro to make changes so that "they no longer cozy up to Hezbollah and [the Islamic Republic] Iran in our hemisphere." Levitt further stated that one of the priorities of the U.S. dialogue with Venezuela's interim officials, led by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, is to stop drug traffickers from transporting drug shipments by sea to the United States. She said, "We do not want to see boats carrying drugs from Venezuela to the United States anymore; honestly, we have not seen that in the past week." Levitt also mentioned that Trump "has made it clear that only tankers approved by the United States will be allowed to move from Venezuela, and we will continue to seize ships that are stateless or do not have trade permits." Last week, Trump announced on social media that Caracas agreed to deliver 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to be stored in the U.S.; oil that, according to him, will be sold at market prices so that the benefits accrue to the people of Venezuela and the United States. The U.S. President is focused on creating change in Venezuela. A resolution limiting war powers in Venezuela is on the agenda of the U.S. Senate and the President's response. The seizure of a tanker linked to Venezuela by U.S. military forces. Donald Trump on the killing of protesters in Iran: The U.S. military is considering "serious options."