Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to deliver a stern warning to Venezuela’s interim leadership, signaling potential future military action if the new regime under Delcy Rodríguez deviates from American strategic objectives, reports said.
According to reports, Rubio while speaking ahead of congressional briefings, stressed that Washington expects alignment on oil policy reforms, reduced ties to Cuba and China, and democratic transitions following the dramatic US operation that ousted Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
The remarks come amid growing tensions
following US forces capture of Maduro on January 3 in a covert operation paving the way for Rodríguez’s interim presidency. Rubio — a key architect of the intervention along with President Trump — clarified that while the US has no intention of governing Venezuela directly, it will enforce compliance through an ongoing oil quarantine and naval blockade in the Caribbean. “This is our hemisphere—President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened,” reports quoted Rubio stating recently.
Lawmakers expressed mixed reactions during closed-door sessions with defense secretary Pete Hegseth and Rubio. House speaker Mike Johnson downplayed ground troop prospects, calling the Maduro capture a “one-off,” yet senators pushed for a vote on requiring congressional approval for escalations, reports said.
Rubio’s upcoming address — expected Thursday — aims at outlining a “small committee” oversight model, blending economic pressure with military deterrence, the reports added