The United States has a three-step plan for Venezuela that will begin with stabilising the country after US forces seized leader Nicolas Maduro on Jan 3, ensuring that US oil companies have access to the country during a recovery phase, and finally overseeing a transition, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Jan 7.
President Donald Trump has warned of further military operations against Venezuela if the members of Mr Maduro’s inner circle who have stepped in to lead the country do not cooperate with his demands, which largely focus on obtaining Venezuelan oil.
The Republican president said the US would refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude, as US forces continued seizing oil tankers linked to Venezuela on Jan 7.
“The bottom line is that there is a process now in place where we have tremendous control and leverage over what those interim authorities are doing and are able to do,” said Mr Rubio, who spoke alongside Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth after a classified briefing to US senators on the Trump administration’s plan for the Latin American country.
“But obviously, this will be a process of transition. In the end, it will be up to the Venezuelan people to transform their country.”
Mr Rubio did not provide details on the planned transition.
