U.S. Strategy on Venezuelan Oil Remains Firm
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the U.S. embargo on Venezuelan oil will remain in effect until the Trump administration is assured that the remaining government in Caracas is acting in alignment with both U.S. interests and those of its citizens.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed that President Trump has sent a clear message to Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez: collaborate with Washington, or be replaced by someone who will.
The remarks followed a significant U.S. military operation in Caracas, which resulted in the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Maduro now faces serious charges related to narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking and is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
The couple, who have been at the helm since the death of former President Hugo Chavez in 2013, are slated to appear in federal court in Manhattan on Monday.
A cloud of uncertainty hangs over Venezuela as global observers ponder what lies ahead, particularly following Trump’s declaration to manage the country until a “safe, proper, and judicious transition” occurs.
Related: Trump warns Venezuelan leadership: cooperate or step aside
Rubio clarified that there are no American troops stationed in Venezuela; instead, Washington intends to utilize its control over the nation’s oil sector as leverage to instigate political change among remaining leaders.
He stated, “That’s why we have a quarantine. That’s a tremendous amount of leverage that we have and will continue to maintain until we see changes.” The U.S. plans to sustain a robust naval presence in the Caribbean to oversee maritime activities and encourage Venezuela toward a different future.
Rubio noted that while immediate changes are not anticipated within hours, there is hope for gradual progress aligned with U.S. national interests and those of Venezuelans.
Noem mentioned that Trump has had straightforward discussions with Rodriguez about U.S. expectations moving forward: “You can lead, or you can get out of the way,” she stated during an interview on Fox News Sunday.
Related: Senator Tom Cotton dismisses comparisons between Iraq war and Venezuela operation
Rodriguez condemned the military action, asserting that it aims to seize Venezuela’s natural resources while demanding Maduro’s release. In her address following the events, she declared, “There is only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicolas Maduro Moros.”
