Rubio signals possible U.S. military options if Venezuela’s new leaders diverge

At a forthcoming Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will warn that the Trump administration is prepared to use force against Venezuela if its interim leadership strays from U.S. goals, stressing that there are no U.S. troops on the ground. He defends actions like Maduro’s removal and oil-tanker seizures, while pressing to open Venezuela’s energy sector to U.S. firms and to keep pressure on Caracas, even as Democrats accuse the administration of overreach. The move comes as Washington works to normalize ties, reopen the Caracas embassy, and coordinate with Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez, with Rubio set to meet opposition leader María Corina Machado during the visit.