04.01.2026 19:43
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that they will continue to implement an oil quarantine to guide new leaders following the regime's collapse in Venezuela. Rubio emphasized that this practice would increase pressure on Venezuela through sanctions on U.S. oil shipments.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made statements to the U.S. press regarding the attack on Venezuela and the policies to be pursued towards this country in the future.
"WE ARE IMPLEMENTING A OIL QUARANTINE"
When asked to clarify President Donald Trump's statements that Venezuela would be run by the U.S., Rubio said, "The key to what the regime is based on is the economy fueled by oil. and right now the oil industry is lagging behind. It needs a lot of help and work. At the same time, it is also true that it provides no benefit to the people and that the money from oil revenues does not reach the people in any way. Everything is being stolen by the people at the top. That is why we are implementing a 'quarantine.' There is currently a quarantine on oil shipments that are subject to sanctions," he said.
"IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN EFFECT"
Stating that this practice is a significant pressure tool in the hands of the U.S., Rubio said, "It will continue to be in effect until we see changes that will create a better future for the people of Venezuela. The 'control' the President refers to is this kind of control. We are maintaining this quarantine and expecting changes. This includes not only operating the oil industry for the benefit of the people but also stopping drug trafficking, eliminating gang issues, expelling FARC and ELN, and ending the rapprochement with Hezbollah and Iran in our hemisphere," he said.
"THE U.S. HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ACT"
Speaking to CBS News, Rubio stated that what he described is not about U.S. troops being on the ground but rather issues related to the pressure of sanctions, and in response to a question about whether the U.S. would invade Venezuela, he said, "The President always keeps his options open on every issue and in all these matters. The U.S. has the authority and right to act against imminent and acute threats to the country under the framework of the U.S. Constitution."
Noting that the U.S. has conducted one of the largest naval deployments in modern history, Rubio said, "This deployment has the capacity not only to stop drug boats but also to halt all ships subject to sanctions that enter and exit, and it can effectively paralyze this part of the regime's revenue generation. That is why it will continue to be in effect," he stated.
Rubio said, "What you see right now is an oil quarantine that allows us to exert tremendous pressure on what will happen next."
"WE HAVE TAKEN THE TOP PRIORITY TARGET"
In response to a question about why the U.S. has not arrested other figures who have millions of rewards on their heads and are still in power in the operation against Venezuela, Rubio said, "It is not possible to go and gather everyone at once. You can go and take them, but you cannot just go in and gather five people at once. We have taken the top priority target. We have taken the number one person on the list, the man who claims to be the president of the country, and he was arrested along with his wife."
"IT IS NOT EASY TO LAND A HELICOPTER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST MILITARY BASE"
Rubio stated, "It is not easy to land a helicopter in the middle of the country's largest military base. He was living on a military base. Making a landing in three minutes, breaking down the door, taking him, handcuffing him, reading his rights, getting him into the helicopter, and getting him out of the country without losing a single American or any U.S. asset is not an easy task," he said.
"IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO WORK WITH SOMEONE WHO IS DE FACTO IN OFFICE EVEN IF NOT LEGITIMATE"
In response to a question about what promises Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who President Trump said took office by oath, made to the U.S. and whether the U.S. would expel its adversaries from the country, Rubio said, "Of course, I will not make these discussions in the media. These are sensitive and complex issues that require mature statesmanship. But our goals are the same. The difference is that in the past, it was not possible for us to work with someone who is de facto in office even if not legitimate. We could not work with him. He did not adhere to any agreements and broke every agreement," he replied.
In response to a question about whether the U.S. would work with Venezuela's second-in-command Rodriguez, Rubio said, "We will make our assessments about people. We will evaluate not based on the statements made to the public during the transition period and what they have done in many cases in the past, but based on what they do from now on. So we will see," he said.