Venezuela’s Maduro warns US seeks dominance over major oil reserves

Authoritarian Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has stated that the United States is attempting to take control of his country’s largest oil reserves by increasing its military presence in the region.

In a letter to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Maduro said Washington wants to "seize the vast Venezuelan oil reserves, the largest in the world, by deadly military force," Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

He warned that such actions pose a threat to regional and international peace, security, and stability, as well as to Venezuelan production and the global oil market.

In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump has intensified his rhetoric and measures against the South American country.

The US has deployed additional troops to the Caribbean and redirected the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, from the Mediterranean, accompanied by other warships and a long-range bomber.

According to the US government, the mission’s goal is to combat drug traffickers.

US officials claim that more than 80 people have been killed so far in attacks on ships allegedly carrying drugs.

Maduro said the US has amassed 15,000 troops and 14 warships in the Caribbean.

Maduro sent the letter to OPEC a day after Trump said Venezuela's airspace should be considered closed.

According to Reuters, Trump confirmed he spoke with Maduro but did not provide details.

"I don’t want to comment on it. The answer is yes," Trump replied when asked if he had spoken with Maduro, speaking aboard his presidential plane, Air Force One.

By Jeyhun Aghazada