The transition plan will entail U.S. access to Venezuelan oil and make room for opposition figures in civil society planning.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump’s plan for the United States to administer Venezuela following Nicolás Maduro’s ouster will play out in three primary phases, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
Speaking with reporters on Capitol Hill on Jan. 7, Rubio described the initial step as a stabilization effort followed by a second phase focused on recovery. The plan will ultimately conclude with a transition of power, he said.
Rubio’s comments followed a closed-door briefing to the U.S. Senate. Lawmakers and media have raised numerous questions about this interim plan for Venezuela in the days since U.S. forces conducted an early morning raid to capture Maduro and bring him to the United States to face narcotics trafficking and terrorism-related charges.
At the moment, Maduro’s deputy and political ally, Delcy Rodríguez, is serving as interim leader in Venezuela. Trump has indicated he’s willing to work with Rodríguez, so long as she remains cooperative with his administration’s efforts.
Stabilization Phase Includes Oil Transfers
Laying out the three-fold plan, Rubio said, “Step one is the stabilization of the country. We don’t want it descending into chaos.”
In this first phase, the secretary said the United States will continue to exercise control over access to Venezuela’s oil resources. Last month, Trump declared a blockade of oil tankers coming to and from Venezuela.
Since December, the U.S. government has seized four tankers, including the two most recent seizures taking place earlier on Wednesday.
“As you’ve seen today, two more ships were seized,” Rubio said.
“We are in the midst right now, and in fact, about to execute on a deal to take all the oil they have, oil that is stuck in Venezuela. They can’t move it because of our quarantine and because it’s sanctioned.”
Trump said on Tuesday that the United States will receive 30 million to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil in the near future.
Rubio told reporters on Wednesday that this Venezuelan oil would be sold at market rates, with the proceeds managed “in such a way that we will control how it is dispersed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people, not corruption, not the regime.”
By Ryan Morgan and Nathan Worcester
