U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Sunday that the United States would not engage in day-to-day governance of Venezuela apart from maintaining an existing “oil quarantine” on the country. This shift follows President Donald Trump’s announcement the day before that the U.S. would oversee Venezuela after the removal of leader Nicolás Maduro.
Rubio’s remarks on television programs appeared to address concerns regarding potential prolonged foreign interventions or unsuccessful nation-building efforts resulting from assertive American actions for regime change. In contrast, Trump’s statements about temporarily “running” the oil-rich nation implied a form of governance by Washington over Caracas.
Despite Trump reiterating on Sunday night that “we’re in charge,” interim Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez extended a conciliatory invitation to collaborate with the Republican president. Rubio, earlier in the day, provided a nuanced perspective, emphasizing the continuation of enforcing an existing oil quarantine on sanctioned tankers, using this leverage to advocate for policy reforms in Venezuela.
Rubio highlighted that the blockade on sanctioned oil tankers, some of which had been seized by the U.S., would persist to exert pressure for policy changes benefiting both the U.S. national interest and the Venezuelan people. Rodríguez also shifted her tone, expressing a desire for respectful relations with the U.S. and emphasizing cooperation for shared development within international legal frameworks.
Trump’s repeated vow to “run” Venezuela during a press conference in Florida generated concerns among Democrats, parts of his Republican base, and observers wary of past nation-building experiences. Rubio dismissed criticisms, asserting that the U.S.’s mission in Venezuela, situated in the Western Hemisphere, differed significantly from previous Middle East engagements.
The article also mentions Trump’s comments about potential U.S. military actions in Colombia and Mexico, with implications for Cuba. Maduro’s arrival in New York following his extraction from Venezuela featured prominently, detailing the legal charges against him and the U.S. government’s stance on his administration.
The article concludes by describing the aftermath of the U.S. operation in Venezuela, including the subdued atmosphere in Caracas and the continued impact on daily life following Maduro’s removal.
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/maduro-arrives-us-after-capture-9.7033019)
