Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Sunday that the United States is steering the course of events in Venezuela after U.S. forces detained and removed President Nicolás Maduro early on Saturday morning, reports Baltimore Chronicle via ABC News. Rubio emphasized that the U.S. is not directly ruling Venezuela but is controlling the trajectory of the situation through strategic measures, including economic sanctions and operational oversight.
During an interview on ABC News’ “This Week,” host George Stephanopoulos asked Rubio about President Donald Trump’s statement indicating that the United States would “run Venezuela.” Rubio clarified that the U.S. is implementing a quarantine on Venezuelan oil, effectively halting the country’s economic activity until conditions align with both U.S. national interests and the welfare of the Venezuelan population.
When questioned about whether the U.S. was exercising authority over the country, Rubio reiterated that the government’s role is to influence the direction of developments in Venezuela. He described the leverage at their disposal as encompassing the oil quarantine and enforcement actions conducted by the Department of War alongside the Coast Guard to seize sanctioned vessels.
Rubio stressed that Maduro was not a cooperative partner for the U.S. administration and confirmed that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez is not recognized as the legitimate leader of Venezuela. “We do not consider this regime legitimate through an electoral process,” Rubio stated, adding that the legitimacy of Venezuela’s government will ultimately be determined through a transitional period and genuine elections, which have not yet occurred.
The Secretary of State also highlighted that all strategic options available prior to the Maduro raid remain on the table. He explained that any sanctioned vessel attempting to enter or leave Venezuelan waters would be intercepted under a court order issued by U.S. judges.
Addressing concerns over the legal authority for the operation, Rubio indicated that congressional approval was not required, asserting that the operation does not constitute an invasion. He noted the involvement of the Department of War was necessary due to the hostile nature of the territory and that the raid required operational discretion to prevent leaks and address urgent circumstances.
Rubio additionally confirmed that he did not participate in the pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, convicted of drug trafficking charges similar to those facing Maduro. He clarified that decisions regarding pardons fall under the president’s authority, and he was not involved in reviewing Hernández’s case.
Earlier we wrote that US Forces Capture Venezuelan President Maduro in Large-Scale Strike, Trump Confirms.
