The US is ready to use force to gain maximum cooperation from Venezuela's new leadership “if other methods prove ineffective”. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this at a hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bloomberg reported.
Rubio said he hoped the use of force would not be necessary. At the same time, he emphasized that the administration of US President Donald Trump will not abandon its “duty to the American people” and “mission in this hemisphere”.
The diplomat added that Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez promised to open the country's energy sector to American companies, provide preferential access to production and use money from oil sales to buy American goods.
Two days ago, Mr. Rodriguez said that Venezuela had received “enough orders from Washington” on domestic policy and called on people to unite.
On January 3, 2026, US forces attacked Venezuela, arrested and deported President Nicolas Maduro to the US. On January 5, 2026, he began trial for running a drug cartel and other crimes.
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On January 4, Venezuela's Supreme Court appointed Rodriguez as the country's acting president, and on January 5, she officially took office. At the same time, US President Donald Trump identified himself as the main figure in running Venezuela and threatened consequences for Rodriguez if she made wrong decisions.
