In a series of interviews with major US media outlets on Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to clarify the nature of recent American actions concerning Venezuela. Following a US-led operation that resulted in the removal of the oil-rich nation's president, Nicolas Maduro, Rubio firmly stated that the United States is not engaged in a war with Venezuela.
"War on Drugs, Not Against Venezuela"
Speaking to NBC, Rubio was directly questioned about whether the US is at war with the South American country. "That's not a war," he asserted. "I mean we are at war against drug trafficking organisations. That's not a war against Venezuela." He emphasised that operations, including the seizing of boats suspected of "bringing drugs toward the United States," would continue as part of this broader campaign.
Rubio painted a stark picture of the situation within Venezuela, describing a state where "people in charge of military and police are openly co-operating with drug trafficking organisations." He identified these elements as direct threats to US national security, vowing that his government intended "to use every element of leverage" to address them.
US Expects Changes and Sets Conditions
When probed about who would be in charge of Venezuela moving forward, the Secretary of State indicated that the US "expect to see changes in Venezuela." He suggested the "most immediate" changes would be those aligning with US national interests. This statement underscores the anticipated political shifts following Maduro's removal.
In a separate interview with CBS's "Face the Nation," Rubio outlined a potential path for future relations. He stated that the US is ready to work with Venezuela's remaining leadership, but only under a strict condition: they must make "the right decision." "We're going to judge everything by what they do, and we're going to see what they do," Rubio told CBS News.
Leverage Remains if Conditions Not Met
Rubio's message carried a clear warning for Venezuelan officials who might resist US objectives. He made it clear that cooperation is not guaranteed. "I do know this: that if they don't make the right decision, that the United States will retain multiple levers of leverage," he cautioned. This indicates that further diplomatic, economic, or strategic pressure could be applied depending on the actions of Venezuela's current power structures.
The weekend's clarifications from the top US diplomat aim to distinguish between actions against criminal drug networks and hostility toward the Venezuelan state or its people. The situation remains fluid as the US anticipates a new political reality in Caracas following the operation against Maduro's government.
