Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed U.S. policy on Venezuela in an interview with Margaret Brennan of CBS’s Face the Nation, addressing recent developments and ongoing American actions regarding the country.
Rubio outlined that U.S. strategy continues to focus on economic pressure, particularly targeting Venezuela's oil industry. He explained: "The key to what that regime relies on... is their economy fueled by oil. And right now, it is an oil industry that is backwards and really needs a lot of help and work... None of the money from the oil gets to the people. It’s all stolen by the people that are on the top there." He added that current measures include a quarantine affecting sanctioned oil shipments, which remains in place as leverage until both U.S. interests and improvements for Venezuelans are addressed.
When asked about potential military intervention or occupation, Rubio stated: "The President always retains optionality on anything and on all of these matters... as of right now I think what you see is a force posture which is one of the largest naval deployments — in modern history, certainly in the Western Hemisphere, and it is capable of stopping not just drug boats but stopping any of these sanctioned boats that come in and out." However, he clarified this does not indicate immediate plans for ground troops.
Rubio also responded to questions about why only certain figures from Venezuela’s government were arrested during recent operations. "You’re not going to go in and grab up – you’re going to – but yeah, but you can’t go – you’re going to go in and suck up five people? Okay. They’re already complaining about this one operation. Imagine the howls we would have from everybody else if we actually had to go and stay there four days to capture four other people," he said, emphasizing the complexity involved.
On political transition within Venezuela following these arrests, Rubio reaffirmed support for opposition leaders who won previous elections according to U.S. accounts but noted ongoing challenges: "There’s – then – but there’s the mission that we are on right now... This is not the Middle East, and our mission here is very different."
Rubio further commented on mass migration from Venezuela since 2014 as a significant regional issue impacting neighboring countries.
Regarding engagement with Delcy Rodríguez—now recognized by President Trump as leader—Rubio declined to provide specifics but said: "Our objectives when it comes to how Venezuela impacts the national interest of the United States have not changed... We want drug trafficking to stop. We want no more gang members to come our way..."
He emphasized that future U.S.-Venezuela relations will depend on observed actions rather than statements: "We are going to make our assessments of people... based on what they do moving forward."
Asked about prospects for democratic transition following comments from President Trump casting doubt on opposition leader María Corina Machado's support inside Venezuela, Rubio replied: "A transition... These things take time. There’s a process." He reiterated expectations for progress toward democracy while acknowledging change would not be immediate.
Addressing speculation over whether American policy was influenced by business interests seeking access to Venezuelan oil resources after regime change, Rubio said: "No, that’s not what happened here. What happened here is that we arrested a narcotrafficker who is now going to stand trial in the United States for crimes he’s committed against our people for 15 years..."
Rubio concluded by stating that revitalizing Venezuela's oil sector would require foreign investment under conditions benefiting Venezuelans rather than oligarchs or external actors hostile toward U.S. interests.
