Rubio: Venezuela must not be an operational hub for US rivals
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Venezuela can no longer serve as a strategic base for Russia, China, or Iran. The top diplomat issued a stern message to the country’s new interim leadership.
Speaking to NBC News, Rubio addressed Delcy Rodríguez, the official currently leading the nation following the capture of Nicolas Maduro. He emphasized that the presence of Cuban intelligence and Hezbollah agents on Venezuelan soil is an unacceptable security risk.
Energy Security and Foreign Influence
The United States will not permit the world's largest oil reserves to fall under the control of foreign adversaries. Rubio questioned why nations like China or Russia would need access to Venezuelan crude, given their geographic distance.
"They aren't even on this continent," Rubio stated, signaling a return to a more assertive regional policy. He clarified that while Washington does not "need" Venezuelan oil, it will not allow its rivals to weaponize it.
The Post-Maduro Transition
The statement follows a dramatic January 3 operation where US special forces captured Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were transported to the United States to face trial in federal court.
President Donald Trump previously indicated that the U.S. would oversee the transition period. Sources suggest Marco Rubio will play a decisive role in shaping the republic's future governance.
When asked about potential elections within the next month, Rubio dismissed the timeline as "premature." He maintained that US pressure will continue until the new authorities demonstrate a definitive break from Maduro’s policies.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
