President Donald Trump said American oil companies will be permitted to operate in Venezuela following a US military action that removed leader Nicolas Maduro, reports Agence France-Presse.

Speaking at his MaraLago resort in Florida, Trump said US firms would invest billions to repair Venezuela�� oil infrastructure and generate revenue for the country.

He stressed that the embargo on Venezuelan oil remains in place. The announcement followed weeks of military pressure, during which US forces seized at least two sanctioned oil tankers.

Trump warned other Venezuelan political and military figures that ��hat happened to Maduro can happen to them.��
Venezuela has been under US oil sanctions since 2019 and produces about one million barrels of crude daily, much of it sold on the black market at steep discounts.

Trump accused Caracas of using oil revenue to fund drug trafficking, human smuggling, murder and kidnapping.