The U.S. will "very quickly" reopen its embassy in Venezuela and establish a diplomatic presence on the ground, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. (Nathan Howard/Reuters )
Reopening the embassy would require the U.S. to acknowledge a governing authority in Caracas, Venezuela, capable of receiving diplomats — a step that would mark a clear shift from Washington’s long-standing refusal to engage Venezuela’s executive.
The current Venezuelan leadership has "been very cooperative on that front," Rubio said. "Obviously there's been some hard asks along the way."
Rubio said the administration is not seeking further military action in Venezuela but stressed that force has not been taken off the table.
"The president never rules out his options as commander in chief to protect the national interest of the United States," Rubio told lawmakers, while emphasizing that the U.S. is "not postured to, nor do we intend or expect to have to take any military action in Venezuela at any time."
Rubio also offered details about the first $500 million of the U.S.-brokered sale of Venezuelan oil, saying $300 million went back to Venezuela to pay for public services, while $200 million remains in a U.S.-run account.
The Trump administration has been in dialogue with Delcy Rodríguez, Nicolas Maduro’s former vice president whom U.S. officials describe as an interim leader, since the capture of the wanted Venezuelan dictator. (Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters)
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Rubio said the administration’s goal is to push Venezuela toward a democratic transition, describing the Maduro regime as "a base of operation for virtually every competitor, adversary and enemy in the world."
He said the U.S. is aiming for a "friendly, stable, prosperous Venezuela and democratic … with free and fair elections," while acknowledging the process will take time.
Pressed on corruption concerns, Rubio said an audit mechanism is being established.
"The audit will be on," he told senators, stressing that spending would be restricted to approved public needs.
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