US President Donald Trump confirms he will meet Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado next week, as focus turns to rebuilding the country.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has indicated he will meet Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado in Washington next week.
Trump made the comment during an interview on Fox News when asked about plans to meet Machado following US strikes on Venezuela.
“Well, I understand she’s coming in next week sometime, and I look forward to saying hello to her,” Trump responded.
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The White House did not immediately provide additional details on the planned meeting.
This would be Trump’s first meeting with Machado, who said earlier this week she had not spoken to the US leader since winning the Nobel Peace Prize in October.
The future governance of Venezuela remains uncertain, with Trump recently dismissing the idea of working with Machado.
Trump told Fox News it will take time for the country, currently led by interim acting President Delcy Rodriguez, to reach a point where it can hold elections.
“We have to rebuild the country. They couldn’t have an election,” he said. “They wouldn’t even know how to have an election right now.”
Venezuela’s oil industry has become a focal point for the Trump administration.
A senior official told Reuters that oil sales to the United States will start immediately with an initial shipment of 30 million to 50 million barrels.
Trump said he will meet with oil executives at the White House on Friday to discuss their role in rebuilding Venezuela’s oil infrastructure.
“They’re going to spend at least $100 billion and it’s an unbelievable oil that they have, and an unbelievable quality of oil and amount of oil,” he said. – Reuters
