Washington — Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Trump administration holds “tremendous leverage” over Venezuela through a “quarantine” of sanctioned oil, controlling the disbursement of funds from oil sales to benefit the Venezuelan people. The administration’s three-phase plan includes stabilization, recovery for fair access to the market, and a future transition, following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro, who faces drug trafficking charges. Rubio emphasized that U.S. sanctions allow for significant control over Venezuela’s interim authorities, while President Trump announced the transfer of 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., with plans for indefinite control of Venezuelan oil sales. Despite potential involvement from U.S. energy companies, experts caution that rebuilding Venezuela’s oil industry may take years.
