US Won't Govern Venezuela But Will Apply Pressure Through Oil Blockade, Says Rubio
The US will not take a day-to-day role in governing Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday, instead opting for an existing "oil quarantine" to apply pressure and encourage policy changes.
Rubio's comments came after President Donald Trump announced earlier that the US would be running Venezuela following its ouster of leader Nicolás Maduro. However, Rubio clarified that the US will not be directly governing the country but rather using the oil blockade as a means to exert influence.
"We continue with that quarantine, and we expect to see 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," Rubio said on CBS' "Face the Nation".
The oil quarantine has been in place since before Maduro's removal from power and will remain in effect until significant changes are made. This approach aims to pressure the new Venezuelan government into making reforms without direct US involvement.
Trump's earlier statement that the US would "run" Venezuela sparked concerns among Democrats and parts of his own Republican coalition, with some critics fearing a prolonged foreign intervention or failed attempt at nation-building. Rubio dismissed these concerns, suggesting that the US mission in Venezuela is distinct from past interventions in the Middle East.
The US has been building up its presence in the region and carrying out operations against suspected drug traffickers, including a drone strike last week. The latest operation involved the extraction of Maduro and his wife from their home, with Maduro now facing US charges.
Venezuela's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, called for the release of Maduro, while the country's high court named her interim president. The situation remains tense, with many Venezuelans shaken by the recent developments.
Rubio's approach to addressing Venezuela's crisis marks a shift in tone compared to Trump's earlier statements, highlighting the complexities and nuances involved in US policy towards the region.
The US will not take a day-to-day role in governing Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday, instead opting for an existing "oil quarantine" to apply pressure and encourage policy changes.
Rubio's comments came after President Donald Trump announced earlier that the US would be running Venezuela following its ouster of leader Nicolás Maduro. However, Rubio clarified that the US will not be directly governing the country but rather using the oil blockade as a means to exert influence.
"We continue with that quarantine, and we expect to see 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," Rubio said on CBS' "Face the Nation".
The oil quarantine has been in place since before Maduro's removal from power and will remain in effect until significant changes are made. This approach aims to pressure the new Venezuelan government into making reforms without direct US involvement.
Trump's earlier statement that the US would "run" Venezuela sparked concerns among Democrats and parts of his own Republican coalition, with some critics fearing a prolonged foreign intervention or failed attempt at nation-building. Rubio dismissed these concerns, suggesting that the US mission in Venezuela is distinct from past interventions in the Middle East.
The US has been building up its presence in the region and carrying out operations against suspected drug traffickers, including a drone strike last week. The latest operation involved the extraction of Maduro and his wife from their home, with Maduro now facing US charges.
Venezuela's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, called for the release of Maduro, while the country's high court named her interim president. The situation remains tense, with many Venezuelans shaken by the recent developments.
Rubio's approach to addressing Venezuela's crisis marks a shift in tone compared to Trump's earlier statements, highlighting the complexities and nuances involved in US policy towards the region.
so i think rubio's plan is a bit sketchy lol but at the same time, it's not like they're gonna be directly involved in venezuela's gov... unless things go south tho. oil quarantine is pretty vague what exactly does that even mean? 
and how long are we talking about this "quarantine" being in effect? seems like a pretty passive move considering they've been building up their presence in the region and all. also, what's with trump saying they'd "run" venezuela? sounds like a huge power grab if you ask me... 
. It sounds like they're trying to strong-arm Maduro into making some changes, but what if that just makes things worse? I mean, Venezuela's already in a tough spot, and now they've got a bunch of US drones flying around, trying to extract the president from his own home... it feels like overkill 
. And what about the people who are actually affected by this? The ones who can't afford oil or food because the country is struggling? We should be helping them out, not trying to control their government through some kind of economic pressure 
I'm thinking we should be careful about how we phrase things when it comes to countries like Venezuela. The US is trying to apply pressure through an oil blockade, but that might not be the most effective way to help the people there. It's all about finding a balance between exerting influence and respecting the sovereignty of other nations. We don't want another situation where the US gets involved and it ends up causing more problems than it solves. 
meanwhile rubio is talking about applying pressure through an oil blockade which sounds kinda mean 
but maybe its a good way to get the new government to change some things 
. Like, how can one tool be so powerful? One day they're trying to run Venezuela, and then next day they're like "nope we'll just apply pressure through a blockade" 
. What's gonna happen when the new government tries to lift it?