The United States is pressuring the interim Venezuelan government to expel official advisers from China, Russia, Cuba and Iran, American officials said, The New York Times reports.
Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, listed President Donald Trump administration’s demands to Venezuela’s new leader, Delcy Rodriguez, in a classified meeting on Monday with senior congressional leaders.
The US officials, who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said that “spies and military personnel” from Cuba, Russia, China, and Iran would be forced out, while some diplomats would be permitted to stay in Venezuela.
Rubio also said he had told Rodriguez that he wanted Venezuela to reopen the oil trade with the United States, a demand that President Trump has made publicly.
Venezuela would most likely have to relax or end its nationalization of the oil industry to entice the American companies that left the country to come back. It may also have to pay restitution of some form, adds The New York Times.

















