(NewsNation) — The Trump administration appears ready to play hardball with Russia as the U.S. exerts control over Venezuela’s oil-based economy, an industry analyst says.
On Wednesday, U.S. forces seized two more “ghost” tankers suspected of illegally running oil for Venezuela, including one vessel that sought protection under the Russian flag. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said President Trump had also agreed to back a measure imposing tough new sanctions that would affect Moscow.
“President Trump is on the march, including against Russia,” Bob McNally, founder and president of Rapidan Energy Group, told “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.”
McNally said the recent U.S. foray into Venezuela — with special forces capturing President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas — did not immediately rattle the energy sector. That could change if Washington gets into escalating confrontations with Russia and Iran, he added.
“Russia and Iran are looming over the horizon,” said McNally, a former adviser to President George W. Bush. “Unlike [with] Venezuela, things could start to affect crude oil.”
The Trump administration announced this week the acting Venezuelan government would allow the U.S. to sell up to 50 billion barrels of oil, with proceeds shared by both nations.
Although the president said he was open-minded about U.S. intervention in other countries in the region, including Colombia, relations with that country may have improved. Trump said he spoke Wednesday with Colombian President Gustavo Petro and looked forward to a private meeting in Washington. Bogota told Reuters the call was cordial.
“Certainly, we all hope that it can deescalate tensions, because I think in this current context of instability in the region, a strike would certainly do more harm than good,” Elizabeth Dickinson, International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for Colombia, told “Vargas.”