Trump claims that the current relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela “is excellent”

Washington.- U.S. President Donald Trump stated this Thursday that the relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela “is excellent,” and that the South American country is doing better than ever with the exploitation and export of oil, without mentioning how earthquakes could affect the country’s economic situation.

In an interview with CNBC journalist Joe Kernen, the president stressed that the ties between the two countries are at their best moment.

“Our relationship with Venezuela is excellent. They are doing better than ever with oil”, noted Trump in the talk in which he highlighted the encouraging data of the US economy.

He highlighted that large companies are entering Venezuela and that the U.S. is also getting a good share of the oil, “as it should be“.

The United States Chargé d’Affaires in Venezuela, John Barrett, said at the beginning of June that Venezuela’s oil exports have reached 1.25 million barrels per day, their “highest level in seven years,” and asserted that this increase is the result of the plan being implemented by the Trump Administration following the capture of Nicolás Maduro last January.

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According to official figures collected in the report published in May by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Venezuela’s crude oil production had increased by 27.6% from January to May.

Since Maduro’s detention and amidst Washington’s marked interest in Venezuelan oil, Rodríguez has promoted a set of reforms, especially in the area of hydrocarbons to allow for foreign investment.

It is unclear how the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that shook Venezuela last week will affect oil production and infrastructure renovation projects.

The United States has been one of the countries that has sent aid for Delcy Rodríguez’s government to deal with the catastrophe that has left at least 2,295 dead and 11,267 injured, according to the latest official report.