Secretary of State Marco Rubio hopes for cooperation with Venezuela’s interim government but warns the US is prepared to use force if necessary
WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope for cooperation with Venezuela following the US toppling of Nicolas Maduro.
He also expected a reopening soon of the US embassy there but brandished the threat of force if the interim leader is defiant.
In prepared testimony for a Senate hearing, Rubio had written that acting president Delcy Rodriguez “is well aware of the fate of Maduro.” “Make no mistake,” read the prepared text, “we are prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail.”
Asked about this during his appearance, Rubio took a more measured tone. “I can tell you right now with full certainty we are not postured to, nor do we intend or expect to, have to take any military action in Venezuela,” Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“The only military presence you’ll see in Venezuela is our Marine guards at an embassy,” he said.
The State Department last week named a new top diplomat for Venezuela and earlier sent a mission to assess the embassy in Caracas.
“We think very quickly we’ll be able to open a US diplomatic presence on the ground,” Rubio said.
The United States shuttered its embassy in 2019 shortly after Washington and other major powers declared Maduro illegitimate. US commandos raided Caracas on January 3 and seized Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The couple were flown to New York to stand trial on US-issued charges of drug trafficking, which they deny.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the committee, said the operation cost at least hundreds of millions of dollars.
“Her cooperation appears tactical and temporary, and not a real shift in Venezuela’s alignment,” Shaheen said. “In the process, we’ve traded one dictator for another.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen, another Democrat, pointed to Trump’s meetings with oil executives and questioned if he ordered the attack for personal benefit.
“By any measure, this is the most corrupt administration in American history,” he said.
Venezuelan officials say more than 100 people died in the operation.
Rubio later met at the State Department with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who said Rodriguez remained part of a state apparatus that has used violence.
“I think no one has faith in Delcy Rodriguez,” Machado told reporters after the meeting. “This is state terrorism and she’s an essential part of it.”
Rubio insisted that the United States wanted democratic elections in Venezuela but offered no timetable.
“That’s the end state that we want — a free, fair, prosperous and friendly Venezuela. We’re not going get there in three weeks.”
