U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio avoided answering on Friday whether the Trump Administration seeks to remove Nicolás Maduro from power in Venezuela, stating that the strategy is to protect U.S. «interests».
«We have an illegitimate regime that openly cooperates with terrorists who threaten the security of the United States,» Rubio said at a year-end press conference at the State Department.
The head of U.S. diplomacy emphasized that the Trump administration is «protecting the interests of the United States.»
Marco Rubio also refused to comment on whether the U.S. government needs Congressional authorization to carry out attacks on Venezuelan territory.
«Nothing has happened that would require us to seek approval from Congress,» he stated.
Trump Tightens the Squeeze on Nicolás Maduro
In an interview with NBC News published this Friday, Trump stated that he does not rule out the possibility of a war with Venezuela and refused to confirm if the ultimate goal of his strategy with that country is to oust Maduro.
«He knows exactly what I want,» Trump responded.
«He knows it better than anyone,» added the head of state, who held a phone call with the Chavista leader in November.
On Tuesday, Trump ordered the blocking of entry and exit from Venezuela for all oil tankers sanctioned by the United States, a week after seizing a ship carrying crude oil off the coast of Venezuela.
The United States thus increased the pressure on the government of Nicolás Maduro, which it accuses of leading the «Cartel of the Suns»—something Caracas denies—following months of bombings of suspected drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The fact that Trump does not rule out a war signifies a significant shift, as he campaigned against his country's involvement in foreign conflicts, thus moving away from the traditional stance of the Republican Party.
His base has criticized him for focusing too much on foreign policy rather than on internal problems, such as the rising cost of living.
For the United States to declare war, Congressional authorization is required.
The Democratic Party insists that Trump needs the approval of the Legislature for attacks on vessels allegedly carrying drugs.
