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US President Donald Trump\u2019s administration has told Venezuela\u2019s interim leader, Delcy Rodr\u00edguez, that her government must exclusively partner with the US on oil production and favor the US when selling heavy crude, ABC reported.<\/p>\n
The US is also demanding that Venezuela reduce its relationships with China, Russia, Iran and Cuba, ABC reported, citing three unnamed people familiar. ABC said that Venezuela was told to kick out the four countries and sever economic ties.<\/p>\n
The White House did not immediately respond for a request for comment on the report.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s not immediately clear to what extent the US would be seeking to remove China, Russia and others from Venezuela\u2019s economy. Any move to cut ties would represent a full political realignment for Venezuela, which has heavily relied on the quartet for economic and security stability in recent years under the governments of both Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chavez.<\/p>\n
Washington is pressuring Rodr\u00edguez to force out spies and military personnel from those countries, although some diplomats would be allowed to stay, according to a separate report by the New York Times, citing unspecified US officials.<\/p>\n
While senior US officials have said the US doesn\u2019t seek to occupy Venezuela, Trump has repeatedly made it clear that he intends to play a leading role in steering its future \u2014 and that much of that future would be financed by oil revenues. The administration plans to meet with US oil companies within the next week to discuss investing in the South American nation.<\/p>\n
Trump on Tuesday evening said Venezuela would start by sending the US as much as 50 million barrels of oil \u2014 worth upwards of $2.8 billion at current benchmark prices for West Texas Intermediate \u2014 declaring it would be sold at market price with the proceeds to benefit both countries.<\/p>\n
When asked about the ABC report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said \u201cChina and other countries have legitimate rights in Venezuela, which must be protected.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added at the regular press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday that her nation \u201cstrongly condemns\u201d America\u2019s use of force and pushing Venezuela \u201cto favor America when handling its own oil resources.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2026 Bloomberg<\/p>\n
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