Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the US abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro before a Senate committee, framing it as a strategic necessity rather than an act of war. He emphasized the need to address the risks posed by Maduro’s regime, citing its ties to adversaries like Iran and Russia, and outlined objectives to stabilize Venezuela and normalize its oil industry. Rubio acknowledged the operation’s costs but downplayed future military actions while detailing plans for oversight of Venezuela’s oil revenue. Senators raised concerns about the focus on Venezuela amid domestic economic issues, with Rubio asserting that the operation did not violate constitutional definitions of war.
