US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Venezuela must not be allowed to serve as an operational hub for US adversaries, including Russia, China, Iran, and Hezbollah, in sharp remarks aired by NBC News on January 4.
“You cannot turn Venezuela into an operations center for Iran, Russia, ‘Hezbollah,’ China, or Cuban intelligence agents. This cannot continue,” Rubio said in an interview, addressing Delcy Rodríguez, who was declared the country’s interim leader following the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro.
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Rubio also stressed that Venezuela’s vast oil resources must not fall under the control of governments hostile to the United States. “You cannot allow the largest oil reserves in the world to be controlled by the enemies of the United States,” he said.
“Why does China need Venezuelan oil? Why does Russia need it? Why does Iran need it? They’re not even on this continent,” Rubio added.
According to the Secretary of State, Washington will continue applying pressure if Venezuela’s new leadership maintains policies associated with Maduro’s rule. “We want Venezuela to move in a certain direction,” Rubio said.
Rubio also rejected claims by Maduro and his allies that the United States is seeking access to Venezuelan oil. “The United States does not need Venezuelan oil,” he said.
Asked whether national elections could be held in Venezuela within the next month, Rubio said it was “premature” to discuss such a timeline.
Rubio’s remarks follow an operation overnight on January 3, when US special operations forces detained Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were transported to the United States, where Maduro is expected to face trial in a US court.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the United States’ recent operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, suggesting the action sends a broader signal to authoritarian governments.
Zelenskyy replied, “If it is possible to deal with dictators this way, then the United States of America knows what to do next.”
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