Picture Credit: Eric Lee/The New York Times
The Trump administration moved to counter growing criticism over its Venezuela operation. It insisted the detention of Nicolás Maduro was a narrowly focused policing action.
Officials stressed it was not the start of a wider military campaign or occupation.
In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed claims that the United States had entered a state of war with Venezuela.
He said Washington’s confrontation was aimed at criminal networks. It was not directed at the Venezuelan state. The effort was, however, framed as a fight against drug trafficking organisations.
Rubio said the action was carried out under US legal frameworks to apprehend an individual facing narcotics charges and should not be characterised as a military incursion.
He stressed that the mission did not constitute an invasion but fell squarely within the remit of law enforcement.
Speaking separately on ABC’s This Week, Rubio asserted American personnel were deployed only for a short period to carry out the arrest and then left the country.
He further said the operation was based on judicial warrants and sanctions enforcement. It was not carried out under any congressional authorisation for combat operations.
Rubio further added that the administration is now concentrating on longer-term pressure through economic sanctions and maritime controls.
On CBS’s Face the Nation, Rubio said US authorities are enforcing an oil ‘quarantine’. The measures are backed by court orders permitting the seizure of shipments that breach sanctions.
“That leverage remains,” Rubio stated, indicating that restrictions would remain until Washington sees developments it believes protect US interests and improve conditions for Venezuelans.
No Move to Govern Venezuela, Rubio Says
Rubio also resisted persistent questioning over who governs Venezuela.
On NBC, he said the United States is not attempting to administer the country, but is instead seeking to influence outcomes through its policy choices.
“What we are running is policy,” he said, citing efforts aimed at curbing drug flows, breaking up criminal gangs and removing foreign militant groups from the region.
That position was reinforced by US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, who spoke on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures.
Waltz said the arrest was defensible under international law and framed it as an act of self-defence.
“This is our hemisphere,” Waltz said, arguing that the United States would not permit rival powers to use the region as a staging ground.
He pointed to alleged links between Maduro and China, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He said firm action was needed to protect American security.
Rubio noted that while further measures are not being ruled out, there are currently no US troops stationed in Venezuela.
“We don’t have US forces on the ground,” he said.
Asked about elections and the prospect of political change, Rubio urged patience.
“These things take time,” he said on CBS. “There is a process.”
The administration said it would judge Venezuela’s future conduct on concrete actions. It signalled that assurances alone would not be sufficient. Pressure will remain until US security concerns are addressed.
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