indicated on Sunday that the United States would not be involved in the daily governance of Venezuela, beyond maintaining an existing oil quarantine, a shift from President Donald Trump’s earlier declaration that the U.S. would manage Venezuela following the recent capture of its leader.
Rubio’s remarks on television talk shows appeared intended to alleviate concerns that the aggressive U.S. move for regime change could lead to another lengthy foreign intervention or an unsuccessful nation-building effort. These comments diverged from Trump’s sweeping yet imprecise assertions that the U.S. would, at least for a period, “run” the oil-rich country, implying a governing framework where Washington would control Caracas.
Rubio presented a more subtle perspective, stating that the U.S. would uphold the oil quarantine already imposed on sanctioned tankers prior to Maduro’s removal early Saturday, utilizing this influence to push for policy reforms in Venezuela.
“That is the type of control the president refers to,” Rubio explained on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “We will maintain that quarantine, and we anticipate seeing changes, not only in how the oil industry operates for the public’s benefit but also to halt drug trafficking.”
The embargo on sanctioned oil tankers — — “will remain active, providing significant leverage that will persist until we observe changes that not only advance the primary national interest of the United States but also contribute to a brighter future for the Venezuelan populace,” he further stated.
Venezuelan leaders have, to date, publicly resisted, urging the Trump administration to free Maduro.
Even prior to the operation that apprehended Maduro, experts had already raised questions about the legality of certain aspects of the administration’s pressure campaign on Venezuela, including the indictment of officials accused of drug trafficking, which some scholars argued pushed the limits of international law.
Trump Reiterated Vow That U.S. Would ‘Run’ Venezuela
Trump’s pledge to “run” Venezuela, reiterated over half a dozen times during a Saturday news conference in Florida, ignited apprehension among some Democrats. It also caused discomfort within segments of his own Republican coalition, including an “America First” faction that opposes foreign interventions, and from commentators who recalled previous nation-building endeavors in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Rubio dismissed this criticism, asserting that Trump’s intentions had been misinterpreted.
“The entire foreign policy establishment perceives everything as Libya, everything as Iraq, everything as Afghanistan,” Rubio stated. “This is not the Middle East. And our objective here is distinctly different. This is the Western Hemisphere.”
Rubio further indicated that the U.S. would allow Maduro’s current subordinates time to govern, remarking, “We will evaluate everything based on their actions.” While he did not exclude the possibility of ground troops in Venezuela, Rubio noted that the U.S., having increased its regional presence, was already equipped to intercept drug vessels and sanctioned tankers.
The previous day, Trump informed reporters, “We will manage the country until we can facilitate a secure, appropriate, and prudent transition.” He subsequently gestured to his national security team present, including Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and stated that it would be overseen for a duration by “the individuals standing directly behind me. We are going to be managing it; we are going to be restoring it.”
The White House refrained from commenting further than Trump’s statements on Saturday.
Maduro’s Arrival
Maduro arrived late Saturday afternoon at a small airport in New York City’s northern suburbs, following the overnight apprehension of him and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their residence at a military base in Caracas — an action Maduro’s government labeled “imperialist.” The couple faces U.S. charges related to involvement in a narco-terrorism conspiracy.
The dramatic capture of the Maduros concluded an extensive pressure campaign against Venezuela’s autocratic leader and months of covert planning, marking the most forceful American intervention to effect regime change since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Questions arose regarding the legality of the operation, which proceeded without congressional authorization.
Venezuela’s Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, demanded Maduro’s release by the U.S. and assumed the interim presidency as appointed by her nation’s high court. Similarly, the country’s Defense Minister, General-in-Chief Vladimir Padrino López, stated Sunday that the nation’s armed forces “categorically reject the cowardly kidnapping.”
Maduro is scheduled to make his initial appearance Monday in Manhattan’s federal court.
Maduro and other Venezuelan officials were indicted in 2020 on charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, and the U.S. government’s statement on Saturday regarding Maduro and his wife depicted his administration as a “corrupt, illegitimate government” sustained by a drug-trafficking enterprise that inundated the U.S. with cocaine. The U.S. government does not acknowledge Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.
The Trump administration dedicated months to augmenting American forces in the region and conducting assaults on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean, suspected of transporting drugs. Last week, the CIA orchestrated an operation at a docking area believed to have been utilized by Venezuelan drug cartels — marking the first known direct intervention on Venezuelan territory since the U.S. campaign commenced in September.
Quiet Descends on Venezuela Following U.S. Operation
Venezuela’s capital was quiet on Sunday, with minimal vehicle traffic and convenience stores, gas stations, and other businesses shut. A road usually bustling with runners, cyclists, and other fitness enthusiasts on Sundays saw only a few individuals exercising.
The presidential palace was under guard by armed civilians and military personnel. In a nearby plaza, only a street sweeper and a soldier were present, and across the street, a church remained closed for the second consecutive day.
According to Venezuelan law, Rodríguez would succeed Maduro. However, Rodriguez emphasized during a Saturday appearance on state television that she had no intention of assuming power, prior to Venezuela’s high court mandating her to take on the interim role. Trump informed The Atlantic in a Sunday interview that Rodríguez might “pay a very significant price” if she fails to act in a manner he deems beneficial for Venezuela.
This contrasted with the Republican president’s remarks about Rodríguez on Saturday, when he stated that Rubio had conversed with her and she was prepared to comply with what the U.S. believed necessary to enhance the living standards in Venezuela.
Trump informed the magazine that “if she does not act appropriately, she will incur a substantial cost, likely greater than Maduro’s.”
Trump told the New York Post in a Saturday interview that the U.S. would not need to deploy troops in Venezuela if she “complies with our wishes.”
Caracas resident David Leal arrived at the parking lot where he works, only to swiftly realize he would probably have no clients for a second consecutive day.
“People remain unsettled,” stated Leal, 77.