During his official visit to Ecuador on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched a scathing attack on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. He labeled Maduro as "a drug trafficking fugitive" and dismissed recent UN reports that do not list Venezuela as a drug-producing nation. "I don't care what the United Nations says. Maduro is a fugitive and not the legitimate leader of Venezuela. He has been indicted in the United States and faces charges brought by a grand jury in the Southern District of New York," Rubio stated during a press conference in Quito, part of his tour across Latin America.
Rubio clarified, "He is a narcotrafficker and a terrorist who was indicted by a grand jury in New York," adding that a "new indictment two years ago" exposed Maduro's connections to drug cartels, particularly in the later years of Hugo Chávez. The senior U.S. official also issued a stern warning to drug cartels from Mexico on Wednesday, following a recent military operation in the Caribbean that targeted a vessel allegedly linked to the Tren de Aragua criminal group.
"These cartels know the risks because they're making billions of dollars. They don't mind losing 2% of their shipments. But make no mistake: they will not continue to operate with impunity," Rubio emphasized, noting that Washington has precise intelligence on these organizations' movements.
He explained that narcoterrorist groups are utilizing international waters to transport drugs to the United States, prompting a direct military response ordered by President Donald Trump. "President Trump has been clear: we will use necessary force to protect the American people. We will not tolerate transnational criminals using Venezuela as a platform for their illicit activities," added the Secretary of State.
The U.S. President himself addressed the issue on Wednesday following a meeting with his Polish counterpart. Trump claimed that the intercepted vessel in the Caribbean "was carrying a substantial amount of drugs intended for our country to kill many people." "Venezuela has been very bad in this. It has sent millions of people to our country, including some of the worst criminals in the world," the President alleged, reinforcing his administration's stance against Caracas.
Key Insights on Marco Rubio's Statements in Ecuador
Why did Marco Rubio criticize Nicolás Maduro in Ecuador?
Marco Rubio criticized Nicolás Maduro because he believes Maduro is a drug trafficking fugitive and not the legitimate leader of Venezuela, as indicted by a grand jury in the Southern District of New York.
What was the U.S. military's response to drug trafficking?
The U.S. military responded to drug trafficking by conducting a direct military operation in the Caribbean, following President Trump's orders to protect American citizens from narcoterrorist activities.
How has President Trump reacted to the drug trafficking issue?
President Trump has emphasized using necessary force to combat transnational criminals and prevent Venezuela from being used as a platform for illicit activities, following the interception of a drug-laden vessel in the Caribbean.