US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, could face the same fate as her predecessor, Nicolas Maduro, if she fails to align with Washington’s demands.
Rubio was expected to deliver the warning on Wednesday while addressing the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, according to prepared remarks.
Rodriguez, who was formerly vice president, “is well aware of the fate of Maduro,” Rubio was quoted as saying.
“It is our belief that her own self-interest aligns with advancing our key objectives,” he added.
In a strong message, Rubio stressed that Washington was ready to escalate its actions if necessary.
“Make no mistake, as the president has stated, we are prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail,” he said, referring to President Donald Trump.
The secretary of state also defended the recent US operation that led to Maduro’s arrest, rejecting criticism from Democratic lawmakers who accused the administration of misleading Congress and overstepping its authority.
US commandos carried out a raid in Caracas on January 3, capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, before flying them to New York to face US charges related to drug trafficking, which they deny.
Rubio described the operation as a major success, insisting that the United States had taken down criminal actors rather than a legitimate head of state.
“The United States arrested two narcotraffickers,” he said, calling Maduro “an indicted drug trafficker, not a legal head of state.”
“All of this was accomplished without the loss of a single American life, or an ongoing military occupation. History features few examples where so much was achieved at so little cost,” he added.
However, Venezuelan authorities claimed that more than 100 people were killed during the operation, including Venezuelans and Cubans who attempted to defend Maduro.
Trump has since urged Rodriguez to adopt policies favourable to US oil companies, signalling that economic interests remain central to Washington’s approach to Venezuela.
Initially, Trump indicated that he preferred pressuring Rodriguez rather than backing Venezuela’s democratic opposition, dismissing opposition leader Maria Corina Machado as a “very nice woman” who lacked “respect.” His tone reportedly shifted after Machado later visited the White House and presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize.
Rubio is also scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting with Machado, reflecting her growing relevance in Washington’s Venezuela strategy.
Despite pressure from the United States, Rodriguez has pushed back against external influence, saying she has had enough of directives from Washington. At the same time, she has sought to encourage US oil investment and announced that the United States had begun unblocking sanctioned Venezuelan funds.
