Colombian president says Venezuela "will implode" if U.S. runs country for years

Colombia's left-wing President Gustavo Petro told CBS News connected Thursday predicted Venezuela would "implode" if the U.S. is successful complaint of the South American federation for years, arsenic President Trump precocious suggested. 

Petro's remarks came successful effect to Mr. Trump's remark to the New York Times that helium expected U.S. oversight of Venezuela to past "much longer" than a year. 

"If that happens, Venezuelan nine volition implode," Petro said. 

"And there's a important constituent that's not truthful overmuch astir Venezuela, but astir the thought that the United States has a close implicit the resources of not lone Latin America, but the world," Petro added. 

The Trump medication has said the U.S. plans to instrumentality power of selling Venezuela's lipid and is pushing American companies to put billions successful rebuilding Venezuela's lipid infrastructure. Mr. Trump is meeting with lipid executives astatine the White House Friday to sermon the issue.

Petro and Mr. Trump spoke for the archetypal time Wednesday aft the U.S. person threatened subject enactment against Colombia arsenic portion of his crackdown connected the travel of narcotics into the country. The telephone appeared to easiness the escalating tensions betwixt the 2 leaders, and Mr. Trump invited Petro to the White House. 

Petro was captious of Venezuelan absorption person María Corina Machado, who Mr. Trump said helium plans to conscionable with adjacent week. When asked if helium would spot oregon enactment her arsenic a person of Venezuela, Petro said, "I invited her once, and she didn't privation to come. I was evidently amazed that Trump thought the aforesaid happening arsenic me." 

After the U.S. captured erstwhile Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Mr. Trump said helium didn't judge Machado had capable enactment wrong her state to beryllium a viable leader. Instead, Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, has been sworn successful arsenic interim president.

But among the opposition, Machado was polling astatine 93% up successful an predetermination past twelvemonth successful which Maduro claimed a decisive triumph that the U.S. and Machado accidental helium stole. While the Maduro authorities blocked Machado from running, the campaigner she backed is believed by the U.S. and galore extracurricular observers to person won 70% of the vote.