The WSJ reported on the US desire to establish control over Venezuela's oil and bring down prices

The administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing a plan for long-term control over Venezuelan oil in order to reduce oil prices to $ 50 per barrel. This was reported on January 7 by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

"Trump and his advisers are planning a large—scale initiative to dominate the Venezuelan oil industry for years to come, and the president informed the advisers that, in his opinion, his efforts can help lower oil prices to the desired level of $ 50 per barrel," the publication says.

According to the newspaper's sources, the plan involves the establishment by the United States of certain control over the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, including the purchase and sale of the bulk of its production.

"If successful, this plan will actually be able to give the United States control over most of the oil reserves in the Western Hemisphere," the newspaper said.

Hotly contested: how the United States is building relations with Venezuela after Maduro's arrest

Washington expects to achieve full access of American companies to the oil infrastructure

On January 6, Trump announced that the Venezuelan authorities would transfer from 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States for subsequent sale on the market. The American leader will personally take control of the revenue.

On January 7, the US Department of Energy announced that the United States had begun selling oil from Venezuela on the world market. It is noted that the funds received as a result of the trade will be credited to accounts controlled by the United States, "to ensure the legality and integrity of the final distribution of proceeds."

On the same day, US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright noted that the United States does not intend to steal oil from Venezuela. He added that American oil companies are not yet ready to invest heavily in the country's infrastructure.

American Vice President Jay D. Vance also said that the United States would allow Venezuela to sell oil as long as it served the national interests of the United States. Vance also noted that the United States controls Venezuela's energy resources.

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