In his upcoming speech to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has threatened interim Venezuelan President Delca Rodríguez with the use of force if she does not cooperate with Washington. Rubio emphasized that the United States is not at war with Venezuela, but is prepared to intervene if diplomatic and other methods fail. According to him, the goal of the US is to ensure the maximum cooperation of Venezuelan officials, while hoping that the use of force will not have to happen.
- US Minister Rubio threatened to use force against Venezuela.
- The US is not at war, but it is ready to intervene.
- Under pressure from the US, Rodríguez signed the oil deal.
- Rubio will meet with opposition leader Machado.
- The situation in Venezuela remains tense and uncertain.
Rubio also defended President Donald Trump’s decision to arrest former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who along with his wife Cilia Flores were detained by US special forces in early January. Both were subsequently transferred to New York, where they face charges of narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and weapons possession. In his speech, Rubio emphasized that Rodríguez is aware of her predecessor’s fate and that her interests should align with US goals.
Tension in relationships
Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in as interim president on Jan. 5, strongly objected to US interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs in a recent speech. She declared that Venezuela’s conflicts should be resolved exclusively by domestic politicians and rejected “orders from Washington.” At the same time, she criticized the consequences that, according to her, brought fascism and extremism in the country.
Nevertheless, under pressure from the US, Rodríguez signed an agreement on the sale of oil to the United States, opened the Venezuelan oil sector to foreign investors and announced legislative reforms. In addition, it initiated negotiations with the opposition and began the release of political prisoners. According to the AP agency, 266 political prisoners have been released since January 8.
Meeting with the opposition
On Wednesday, Rubio is scheduled to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was previously barred from the presidential election won by Nicolás Maduro. Machadová, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, is one of the most prominent figures of the Venezuelan opposition and has long criticized the Maduro regime.
The United States continues to exert intense pressure on Venezuela, with military operations in the Caribbean Sea aimed at combating drug trafficking as one of the tools of its strategy. The situation in Venezuela remains tense, with further developments dependent on Rodríguez’s ability to balance US demands with domestic political challenges.
