Marco Rubio: U.S. Oil Blockade to Force Change After Maduro Capture
Secretary of State Marco Rubio moved Sunday to clarify the extent of American involvement in Venezuela following the dramatic extraction of Nicolás Maduro, distinguishing between strict economic pressure and direct governance.
Rubio’s comments came a day after President Donald Trump stated the U.S. would “run” the South American nation, a declaration that sparked immediate debate regarding the scope of the intervention.
Rubio delineates U.S. involvement following Maduro ouster
The operation that removed Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from a military base in Caracas unfolded in the early hours of Saturday, marking the most significant U.S. intervention in Latin America since the invasion of Panama 36 years ago. While the tactical success of the mission resulted in Maduro’s transfer to a detention center in New York, the political aftermath remains fluid.
On Saturday, according to NBC News, President Trump said to reporters that the U.S. would “run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” gesturing to his national security team. This assertion raised questions about sovereignty and the mechanics of the transition. However, the administration’s top diplomat offered a more specific interpretation of what that control entails.
According to CBC News, the Secretary of State explained the nuance of the administration’s plan during a television appearance. Rubio said, “And so that’s the sort of control the president is pointing to when he says that. We continue with that quarantine, and we expect to see that there will be changes, not just in the way the oil industry is run for the benefit of the people, but also so that they stop the drug trafficking.”
Rubio dismisses comparisons to Middle East interventions
The blockade on sanctioned oil tankers, some that have already seized by the United States – “remains in place, and that’s a tremendous amonut of leverage that will continue to be in place until we see changes that not just further the interest of the United States, which is number one, but also that lead to a better future for the people of Venezuela,” Rubio added.
The assertive nature of the operation and Trump’s initial comments drew immediate parallels from critics to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Concerns regarding “mission creep” and indefinite occupation were voiced by Democrats as well as the “America First” wing of the Republican party, which generally opposes foreign interventionism.
Rubio sought to distance the Venezuela operation from those conflicts, arguing that the geographical and strategic realities of the Western Hemisphere demand a different calculus. NBC Washington reported on the Secretary’s response to critics concerned about prolonged intervention. Addressing the “America First” base and Democrats alike, Rubio said. Rubio added, “The whole foreign policy apparatus thinks everything is Libya, everything is Iraq, everything is Afghanistan. This is not the Middle East. And our mission here is very different. This is the Western Hemisphere.”
Uncertainty and silence on the streets of Caracas
While Washington debates the semantics of governance and quarantines, the atmosphere in Venezuela remains tense and uncertain. The operation, which President Trump noted involved cutting “almost all of the lights” in Caracas, has left a vacuum of power and information.
On Sunday, the typically bustling streets of the capital were largely empty. The widespread anxiety among the populace was palpable, with many businesses remaining shuttered. The Supreme Court of Venezuela moved to name Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as the interim president, creating a potential standoff between the remaining government structure and the U.S. agenda.
The human cost of the political upheaval is visible in the daily lives of residents who are unsure of what the coming days will bring. David Leal, a 77-year-old resident who works parking cars, told reporters he expected no clients for a second straight day. “People are still shaken,” Leal said, capturing the mood of a populace accustomed to crisis but stunned by the sudden removal of their leader.
Legal proceedings and the path forward
As the geopolitical maneuvering continues, the legal process against the former Venezuelan leader has begun. Maduro and Flores are facing U.S. charges related to a “narco-terrorism conspiracy.” The Justice Department released a new indictment Saturday, alleging the administration operated as a corrupt entity fueled by drug trafficking designed to floodthe United States with cocaine.
Following his extraction, Maduro was flown to New York. Video released by a White House account depicted the deposed leader smiling while being escorted by Drug Enforcement Administration agents. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance in a federal court in Manhattan on Monday.
The legality of the operation has been questioned by legal experts, noting it was conducted without specific congressional approval. However, General Dan Caine, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, revealed that the military had rehearsed the extraction for months, gathering intimate intelligence on Maduro’s habits, down to his clothing and diet, to ensure the mission’s success.
