Secretary of State Marco Rubio Testifies on Venezuela

Yesterday, Secretary Marco Rubio testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stating that U.S. forces removed Nicolás Maduro to eliminate a hemispheric security threat tied to drug trafficking and to adversaries including China, Russia, and Iran.

Secretary Rubio said the United States conducted a limited operation under lawful authorities and sought to establish stability rather than impose regime change by force. He outlined a phased approach focused on stabilization, recovery, and a democratic transition, using oil sanctions and licensing to influence interim authorities. He acknowledged operational and governance risks and said the administration will assess progress based on concrete actions.

Most contentious parts of the testimony

Cost, Effectiveness, and “Was It Worth It?” Sen. Shaheen (D-NH) questioned whether the operation justified its financial cost and argued that Maduro’s removal did not materially change who governs Venezuela or reduce adversary influence. Rubio defended the action as necessary to address a direct hemispheric threat and said the administration will measure success through stabilization and follow-on progress (7:00-10:00 and 19:00-25:00).

Congressional Consultation & War Powers. Sen. Coons (D-DE) criticized the administration for failing to consult Congress and argued that rehearsals and preparation indicated there was time to do so. Rubio responded that operational security and trigger-based timing constrained what could be shared, and he cited leak risk as a key factor (40:00-50:00).

Corruption & Oil Sales to Politically Connected Firms. Sen. Murphy (D-CT) raised concerns that no-bid oil licenses went to politically connected firms and pressed for a fair, open selection process going forward. Rubio said the arrangement served as a short-term emergency measure to move oil quickly and prevent fiscal disruption, not a long-term model (1:00:00-1:05:00).