Rubio Defends U.S. Arrest of Maduro
On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke out in defense of the U.S. operation that led to the arrest of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He also took the opportunity to criticize a reporter who seemed intent on escalating tensions during a news conference.
This comment was made alongside Slovak Prime Minister Roberto Fico. During the event, a reporter mentioned Fico’s earlier disapproval of the U.S. actions against Maduro, questioning whether he supported the operation. Rubio chose to address this before responding to other questions from the same reporter.
“I think the reason you asked him was to see if you could, for instance, turn him against us. A lot of countries were not thrilled about what we did in Venezuela, and that’s okay. It was in our national interest,” Rubio explained.
He continued, addressing Fico directly: “There will come a time when something you do will not sit well with us, and we’ll express that. But so what? It doesn’t mean we won’t remain friends or partners.” His words were confident, but you could sense a hint of hesitation, perhaps aware of the complexities in international relations.
In recent remarks, President Trump noted that Venezuela would be supplying millions of barrels of oil to the U.S. “immediately,” a statement that certainly raised eyebrows.
Rubio emphasized that although many allies voiced their discontent regarding the U.S. actions, he considered the operation a success, stating it was necessary due to Maduro’s stature as a “narco-terrorist.” “Just look at how Venezuela has changed in the weeks since his departure,” Rubio said, acknowledging that there’s still a significant journey ahead for the country.
Despite the challenges, he asserted, “Venezuela is undoubtedly better off today than it was six weeks ago. We stand by this operation, even if some will disagree. But I believe we can all agree that Venezuela now has a shot at a future it previously didn’t have.”
These comments came after Trump praised U.S. military strength during Maduro’s capture while speaking at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, highlighting the role of special forces throughout the operation.
In a recent revelation, the State Department confirmed that a “limited number” of staff members are now in Caracas, working to restore diplomatic relations with Venezuela.
Trump recalled the urgency of the operation, noting how quickly U.S. forces managed to arrest Maduro. “It took just minutes,” he remarked, describing how easily they breached barriers. “Steel was like papier mache,” he added, a curious analogy that underlined the efficiency of their operation.
Ultimately, Maduro was flown to the U.S. and is currently facing multiple federal charges, including conspiracy related to narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. He is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City.
