Contrary to President Donald Trump's vow that the United States would run Venezuela for the time being, the United States appears to be leaning toward policy intervention using military power as leverage.
On the 4th (local time), according to the New York Times (NYT), U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, when asked how the United States plans to govern Venezuela, did not present plans for a U.S. military occupation authority like the one the George W. Bush administration set up in Baghdad during the Iraq War, and said the United States would pressure the Venezuelan government run by President Nicolás Maduro's close aides to induce policy changes.
Minister Rubio also said in an NBC interview, in response to the question "who runs Venezuela," that it is "running policy (not the country)," adding, "we want Venezuela to move in a particular direction." The NYT reported that Minister Rubio expressed frustration that people are overly fixated on President Trump's remark that the U.S. government would run Venezuela.
Minister Rubio's remarks are somewhat at odds with President Trump's. Earlier, at a news conference on the 3rd, President Trump said the United States would "run the country for a while" to stabilize it until a peaceful transfer of power takes place in Venezuela. The White House said Minister Rubio was explaining what Trump meant by "run," and that there is no contradiction between the two statements.
Minister Rubio said the United States would deal with the current government for the time being instead of the Venezuelan opposition leader. At present, Venezuela's key posts are held by Maduro allies, including Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who is serving as acting president. Minister Rubio also spoke with Vice President Rodríguez the day after President Maduro's arrest.
Meanwhile, the U.S. blockade of Venezuela's oil exports is expected to continue. Minister Rubio said on CBS News that the United States would keep blocking tankers on the sanctions list until the Venezuelan government opens the state-run oil industry to foreign investors and accepts other changes. He added, "this measure will remain in place, and it is a tremendous source of pressure," and "it will remain in place not only to advance U.S. national interests, but until changes appear that lead to a better future for the Venezuelan people."