At a Glance
- Marco Rubio says the U.S. will enforce an existing oil quarantine, not govern Venezuela.
- Donald Trump announced the U.S. would run the country after Nicolás Maduro’s ouster.
- Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were seized in a U.S. operation and face narco-terrorism charges.
Why it matters: The U.S. stance on Venezuela could reshape regional politics and affect U.S. enforcement of sanctions.
On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that Washington would not assume day-to-day governance of Venezuela, a stark contrast to President Donald Trump‘s earlier claim that the U.S. would run the nation following Nicolás Maduro’s removal.
Rubio Cuts Back on Trump’s Vision
Rubio’s remarks on TV talk shows were aimed at calming fears that an assertive U.S. action might lead to prolonged intervention or failed nation-building.
He emphasized that the U.S. will continue to enforce the oil quarantine that was in place before Maduro was ousted and that this leverage will be used to push for policy changes and curb drug trafficking.
- Enforcement of existing oil quarantine remains a key leverage point.
- The goal is to improve how the oil industry serves Venezuelan people.
- The U.S. also wants to stop drug trafficking linked to the regime.
Marco Rubio stated:
> “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.”
Marco Rubio said:
> “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.”
Marco Rubio added:
> “We’re going to judge everything by what they do, and we’re going to see what they do.”
Operation and Aftermath
Maduro landed late Saturday afternoon at a small airport in New York’s northern suburbs following a midnight operation that extracted him and his wife from a Caracas military base.
The couple faces U.S. charges of participating in a narco-terrorism conspiracy and a new indictment released Saturday describes the Maduro government as corrupt and drug-trafficking.
Maduro is scheduled to appear in Manhattan federal court on Monday, while the U.S. government does not recognize him as Venezuela’s leader.
- Maduro and Cilia Flores captured in U.S. operation.
- Indicted on narco-terrorism conspiracy in 2020; new indictment released Saturday.
- Scheduled court appearance Monday in Manhattan.
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maduro extraction | Saturday | Midnight operation from Caracas |
| U.S. operation in New York | Saturday | Captured at small airport |
| New indictment | Saturday | Describes government as corrupt |
| Court appearance | Monday | Manhattan federal court |
Caracas remained unusually quiet after the operation, with few vehicles on the streets, businesses closed, and the presidential palace guarded by armed civilians.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. will enforce oil quarantine, not govern Venezuela.
- Trump’s claim of running the country contrasts with Rubio’s stance.
- Maduro and wife captured, facing narco-terrorism charges and court appearance.
The divergent U.S. positions and the abrupt removal of Maduro underscore a tense moment in U.S.-Venezuela relations, with the nation’s future hanging in the balance.
