Trump Calls Venezuela a Potential "51st State" of the US

US President Donald Trump suggested on 27 October that Venezuela, the South American country, might one day become the 51st state of the United States. He made the remark at a rally in Corpus Christi, Texas, ahead of the US midterm congressional elections, according to The Guardian. The comment matters because it concerns Washington's ties with a country whose leadership has recently changed.

Trump said: "Venezuela will become a prosperous country, and who knows? Maybe soon it will become a prosperous 51st state."

The oil deal

The president described the agreement reached with the Venezuelan government, after former president Nicolás Maduro was removed from power, as "the biggest victory in the history of the oil industry". He thanked Venezuela and said relations between the two countries had become "very, very good".

During the rally Trump also displayed a tanker which, in his words, carried one million barrels of oil from Venezuela. The vessel was visible behind him on stage.

Earlier statements

In August, Trump announced what he called the largest oil deal ever with Venezuela. According to him, it gives the United States control over more than 60 billion barrels of the country's proven oil reserves.

In spring, Trump posted an image on his social network showing a map of Venezuela in the colours of the US flag with the caption "51st state".