We’re Not at War With Venezuela, Our Target Is Drug Cartels, Says US
The United States has dismissed claims that it is at war with Venezuela, saying its actions are limited to law enforcement operations and economic measures aimed at curbing drug trafficking, foreign influence, and threats to its national security.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, made the clarification in a series of interviews on Sunday, according to a statement released to reporters. He explained that Washington is applying what he described as “crippling leverage” through sanctions and court-approved seizures of Venezuelan oil shipments to pressure the government in Caracas.
“We are not at war with Venezuela. We are at war with drug trafficking organisations,” Rubio said.
According to him, the current policy followed the recent arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were taken into US custody during what he described as a limited law enforcement operation rather than a military invasion.
Rubio said the United States is enforcing a form of oil quarantine on Venezuela, under which sanctioned vessels entering or leaving Venezuelan waters can be seized by American authorities.
“We are not occupying Venezuela,” he said, adding that Washington is using economic pressure to influence outcomes rather than military force.
He accused Venezuela of becoming a hub for drug trafficking, armed criminal groups, and foreign actors such as Iran and Hizbollah, which he said pose a direct threat to the United States and the wider region.
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Addressing questions on the legality of the actions, Rubio said US courts authorised the seizures of oil shipments. “These are sanctioned vessels. We go to court, obtain orders, and seize them,” he said, noting that congressional approval was not required for Maduro’s arrest because it was a targeted law enforcement operation.
Rubio also rejected suggestions that the United States was attempting to control Venezuela, insisting that the measures were designed solely to protect American interests.
He confirmed that there are no US troops stationed in Venezuela, apart from a brief operation lasting a few hours during Maduro’s arrest. He added that while President Donald Trump retains all military options, no order has been given for occupation or long-term deployment.
The Secretary of State outlined conditions under which US pressure could be eased, including the dismantling of drug trafficking routes through Venezuela, the removal of Iranian and Hizbollah influence, and reforms in the oil sector to ensure revenues benefit ordinary citizens rather than what he described as corrupt elites.
Rubio said Washington would assess Venezuelan authorities based on concrete actions rather than public statements. “We are not reacting to press conferences. We are reacting to what happens,” he said.
While noting that Chevron remains the only US oil company operating in Venezuela, Rubio said other Western firms could return if meaningful reforms are implemented. He added that US Gulf Coast refineries are well-suited to process Venezuelan heavy crude and that a restructured oil industry could generate revenue for the Venezuelan people.
On calls for immediate elections, Rubio said such expectations were unrealistic given Venezuela’s prolonged political crisis. He reiterated US support for a democratic transition but stressed that security and national interest concerns remain Washington’s immediate priority.
“Our number one objective is America, but we want a better future for the people of Venezuela as well,” he said.
By PRNigeria
