Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at 10 a.m. today to defend the Trump administration’s Venezuela policy
His testimony came after the U.S. military operation on January 3, 2026, that captured then-President Nicolás Maduro.
Rubio’s Key Messages
Commitment to pressure without boots on ground: Rubio had previously assured lawmakers that no further military action was expected in the region, though he warned of potential future military action if Venezuela’s new leaders stray from U.S. objectives. Despite a substantial U.S. military buildup in the region, the administration maintains there are no U.S. troops on the ground in Venezuela .
U.S. objectives in Venezuela: According to his prepared testimony, Rubio outlined that the administration aims to help Venezuela transition from what he calls a “criminal state” into a responsible international partner. Specific U.S. goals include opening Venezuela’s energy sector to American companies, providing preferential access to oil production, using oil revenue to purchase American goods, and ending subsidized oil exports to Cuba.
Normalizing diplomatic relations: The State Department notified Congress this week of its intent to reopen the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, which has been shuttered since 2019, by sending temporary staffers to conduct diplomatic functions .Rubio also planned to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader MarÃa Corina Machado later on Wednesday.
Congressional Context
Rubio’s appearance came after successfully convincing Republican senators to withdraw their support for a bipartisan effort to limit the president’s war powers regarding Venezuela. However, Senator Tim Kaine vowed to continue filing additional war powers resolutions challenging military action in Venezuela and other regions.
