On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that while the United States doesn't require Venezuelan oil, it will not allow adversarial forces to take control of Venezuela's oil industry.
"We have an abundance of oil in the United States. What we will not permit is for Venezuela's oil sector to fall under the influence of U.S. adversaries," Rubio declared during an interview with NBC.
He specifically mentioned Iran, China, and Russia—countries that are "not even part of this continent."
"They will not come from outside our hemisphere, disrupt our region in our own backyard, and expect us to bear the consequences. Not under President Trump! This is deeply destabilizing. It won't continue!" Rubio asserted.
Rubio also spoke about opposition leader María Corina Machado, praising her as "fantastic" but noting her absence from Venezuela.
"María Corina Machado is fantastic, and I've known her and the movement for a long time, but we are facing immediate realities," he stated. "The unfortunate and sad truth is that the vast majority of the opposition is no longer in Venezuela. We must address urgent short-term issues," he added, alluding to a potential opposition-led transition.
Rubio made it clear that Washington will persist in targeting vessels linked to drug trafficking and seizing sanctioned ships transporting oil. This policy has resulted in numerous fatalities at sea and has kept several regional countries on edge.
During his appearance on Meet the Press, Rubio dismissed the notion of a war against Venezuela but staunchly defended the military actions authorized by President Trump. He explained that these actions are about "enforcing the law," both in combating drug trafficking and implementing oil sanctions.
U.S. Policy on Venezuelan Oil and Regional Stability
Why does the U.S. oppose foreign control of Venezuela's oil industry?
The U.S. opposes foreign control of Venezuela's oil industry to prevent adversarial nations from gaining influence in the Western Hemisphere, which could destabilize the region.
What measures has the U.S. taken against Venezuelan oil exports?
The U.S. has implemented sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports and targets vessels linked to drug trafficking to enforce these measures.
Who is María Corina Machado?
María Corina Machado is a Venezuelan opposition leader known for her strong stance against the current Venezuelan government. She is currently outside Venezuela.