In an interview, President Donald Trump claimed that the US oil industry could be “up and running” in Venezuela within 18 months of President Nicolás Maduro’s removal from power by a surprise military operation.
He stated, “a tremendous amount of money will have to be spent, and the oil companies will spend it, and then they’ll get reimbursed by us or through revenue.”
The claim comes as representatives from major US petroleum companies are set to meet with the Trump administration this week, CBS News reported.
However, the proposed timeline stands in sharp contrast to expert analysis. Industry analysts previously told the BBC that restoring Venezuela’s oil output could require tens of billions of dollars and potentially a decade.
By James Kisoo
