Jan. 8 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump has said that Venezuela is going to use funds from a new oil deal with the United States to buy "ONLY American Made Products" amid uncertainty over the oil agreement and his administration's plan for the South American country.
"These purchases will include, among other things, American Agricultural products and American Made Medicines, Medical Devices and Equipment to improve Venezuela's Electric Grid and Energy Facilities," Trump said in a statement published Wednesday to his Truth Social media platform.
"In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of American as their principal partner -- A wise choice, and a very good thing for the people of Venezuela, and the United States."
Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves, which have been the focus of the Trump administration since Saturday when the United States seized the country's former authoritarian president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife in a military operation that killed dozens in Caracas. Maduro is indicted in the United States on narcoterrorism and other drug-related charges.
As the United States increased military pressure on Venezuela ahead of the covert efforts to abduct Maduro, and enforced a naval blockade that effectively halted its ability to export oil, Trump repeatedly criticized Caracas over its handling of the petroleum sector. He accused Venezuela of having "stolen" oil and oil assets from U.S. companies, seemingly referencing the country's decades-old nationalization of its oil industry.
