Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested that the U.S. would invade Venezuela with troops unless the country allowed between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to be brought to the U.S.
During a Wednesday interview on the Charlie Kirk show, host Blake Neff asked Hegseth what would prompt President Donald Trump to put "boots on the ground" in Venezuela.
"So far, Secretary, we haven't had any U.S. boots on the ground in Venezuela, but President Trump has said we're going to run the country in some capacity. Is there any possibility that that will take place? And if so, how many, what could that situation look like?" Neff wondered.
"Strategic ambiguity is a really important thing. Leverage properly, it creates opportunities that did not exist before, just like that raid on Maduro that no one in the world anticipated," Hegseth replied. "So what happens next depends a lot on the decisions that are made inside Caracas and by leadership."
"The pressure continues to ensure that they work with the United States to ensure that that oil, and Marco made it clear. The president put out a statement yesterday, 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to be brought to the United States to be processed, to be used properly by the Venezuelans, to ensure that that transition happens the way that it should."
Hegseth also said there were scenarios where U.S. troops could be sent in to protect the embassy or oil companies.
"I wouldn't foreclose anything," he explained. "And I think it's important not to foreclose anything to make sure that the outcome is one that benefits the interests of the United States in our own hemisphere."