On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to clarify President Donald Trump's assertion that the United States would "run" Venezuela after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces. During an interview on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Rubio emphasized that the U.S. does not intend to govern Venezuela directly.
When questioned about the U.S. strategy for Venezuela, Rubio explained that the U.S. would utilize its leverage stemming from an ongoing oil blockade and a military buildup in the region. "What's going to happen here is we have a quarantine on their oil," Rubio stated, elaborating that this economic pressure would remain until conditions beneficial to both the U.S. and the Venezuelan people are met. He insisted that this strategy is ongoing and expected to yield results.
In recent months, the U.S. has seized multiple tankers linked to Venezuela and increased its military presence with ships and warplanes deployed in the Caribbean. This strategic positioning is part of a broader policy aimed at influencing Venezuela’s government and economy.
Rubio was pressed by NBC's Meet the Press host Kristen Welker about who is currently managing Venezuela. He clarified his stance, saying, "Well, it's not running. It's running policy." He reiterated that the U.S. aims to steer Venezuela's governance in a direction that aligns with American interests. Trump's earlier comments about the U.S. "running" Venezuela until a "safe, proper and judicious transition" could be made sparked significant backlash, raising concerns about a potential nation-building effort.
Critics, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, voiced their apprehensions about U.S. intervention. Schumer highlighted the historical implications of American attempts at regime change, noting that such efforts often result in significant costs, both in lives and finances for the American people.
Following Maduro's capture, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as the new president. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have since arrived in New York to face serious drug trafficking charges. Rubio’s comments suggest a shift towards a more diplomatic approach concerning Venezuela, contrasting with Trump’s earlier military-focused rhetoric.
Rubio also elaborated on the U.S.'s intentions regarding Venezuela's lucrative oil reserves, which are among the largest in the world. Trump has proposed that significant U.S. oil companies could invest billions to repair Venezuela's damaged oil infrastructure. "Ultimately, this is not about securing the oil fields; it is about ensuring that no sanctioned oil can come in and out until they make changes to the governance of that entire industry," Rubio explained on ABC.
He stressed the importance of attracting private investment from companies not associated with countries like Iran. While Rubio has not yet spoken to specific U.S. oil companies about entering the Venezuelan market, he expressed confidence that there would be substantial interest from Western firms, stating, "We're pretty certain that there will be dramatic interest from Western companies." He noted that Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright would be assessing opportunities and engaging with potential investors.
In a clarification, it was emphasized that the U.S. military successfully captured Nicolas Maduro and removed him from Venezuela, which was not entirely clear in earlier reports.