Marco Rubio stood firmly behind President Trump’s controversial military operation in Venezuela during his first major Senate testimony as Secretary of State, defending the administration’s decision to forcibly remove Nicolas Maduro while attempting to reassure anxious allies about American intentions toward Greenland and the NATO alliance. The Wednesday hearing revealed sharp congressional divisions over the administration’s increasingly assertive foreign policy approach.
Republican Senator Jim Risch provided previously undisclosed operational details, revealing that approximately 200 American troops participated in the Caracas raid, which included a firefight lasting under 27 minutes. The committee chairman characterized the mission as brief, precise, and successful, while suggesting that Venezuela might require sustained American and international oversight to ensure future elections meet democratic standards. This revelation added concrete details to an operation that had generated significant international debate.
Rubio outlined the administration’s economic framework for Venezuela’s recovery, explaining that the country would soon regain authorization to sell oil currently blocked by sanctions. However, revenue from these sales would be directed into a Treasury-controlled account, with funds released only after monthly budgets submitted by Venezuela receive American approval. This arrangement ensures Washington maintains substantial leverage over the interim government’s financial decisions and policy direction.
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen challenged the operation’s value, noting that most of Maduro’s former associates remain in control of Venezuela’s government apparatus. She questioned why American resources and attention were focused on Venezuela when citizens face pressing domestic economic challenges. Shaheen argued that the United States appears to be spending more, accepting greater risks, and achieving diminishing returns across multiple international engagements from Venezuela to Europe.
The Secretary delivered his most explicit endorsement of Venezuelan democracy to date, meeting with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado following the hearing. However, he faced difficult questions from Senator Cory Booker regarding cooperation with interim leaders who previously served in Maduro’s authoritarian regime. Rubio emphasized that American demands include opening Venezuela’s energy sector to United States companies, providing preferential production access, using petroleum revenue for American goods purchases, and terminating subsidized oil shipments to Cuba.