The Story Drugs, oil and power: what Trump is doing with Venezuela
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Feb 13, 2026 Stephen Gibbs, Times reporter with deep Venezuela experience, recounts waking to helicopters and the shock of a US operation. He discusses empty Caracas streets, the shaky claim that America would run the country, and whether oil, not drugs, is the real prize. He also covers how seized oil flows affect Cuba, rapid law changes to attract investors, and what might come next for the region.
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Oil Talk Revealed Economic Motives
- Trump openly discussed Venezuelan oil grievances and historical disputes with US firms.
- That rhetoric signaled economic motives alongside security claims.
Delcy Rodríguez: The Pragmatic Insider
- Delcy Rodríguez is cosmopolitan, educated abroad, and speaks multiple languages.
- She is seen as pragmatic and capable by oil executives and diplomats.
Dual Messaging By Venezuela's Leadership
- Rodríguez balances nationalist rhetoric publicly while privately engaging with US officials.
- The US has warmed to her as a pragmatic interlocutor while lifting some sanctions.