The United States has a three-step plan for Venezuela, based on stabilizing the country, its economic recovery, and then a political transition, stated US Secretary of State Marco Rubio . This strategy comes after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces and as Washington intensifies its pressure on the interim authorities in Caracas.
According to Marco Rubio, the first phase aims to prevent the country from descending into chaos and to guarantee order and stability. The second phase would focus on economic recovery, with equitable access for American and Western companies to the Venezuelan market, particularly in the energy sector. The final phase would be dedicated to a political transition, which, according to him, should ultimately rest with the Venezuelan people.
The Secretary of State was speaking after a closed-door meeting with U.S. senators, alongside Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth . He did not provide a specific timeline for the transition, but assured that the United States would exert close influence over the interim authorities during the stabilization and recovery period.
President Donald Trump , for his part, threatened further military operations if Maduro's allies, now in power, refused to cooperate. He also stated that the United States would refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil, while US forces continued to seize oil tankers linked to the South American country.
This approach has provoked a strong reaction from the Democratic opposition in Congress. Senator Chris Murphy denounced the plan as extreme, arguing that it amounted to seizing Venezuela 's oil resources through military force. He also criticized the lack of public debate and the insufficient details provided to elected officials.
Marco Rubio justified the confidentiality of certain information by citing the operational nature of the plan. He nevertheless asserted that, alongside economic recovery, Washington intended to encourage national reconciliation, including amnesties for opposition forces, the release of political prisoners, and the rebuilding of civil society.
Democratic critics, however, believe this strategy risks exacerbating international tensions and fueling regional instability. For the Trump administration, the plan is presented as a way to prevent the country's collapse while protecting American strategic interests, pending a political transition that remains largely undefined.
