US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Sunday that the US would play no role in the day-to-day governance of Venezuela other than enforcing the oil blockade. US President Donald Trump had announced a day earlier that America would take over the governance of Venezuela after removing President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Rubio’s statement is being seen as an attempt to reduce concerns that aggressive US action to achieve regime change could lead to prolonged foreign intervention in Venezuela or a failed attempt at nation building.

rule of oil-rich nation

Rubio’s statement contrasts with Trump’s broader, but vague, claims that the US would rule the oil-rich nation, at least temporarily. Trump’s statement hinted at some type of governance structure under which Caracas would be controlled by Washington.

America will continue the oil embargo

But Rubio offered a more balanced approach, saying the US would continue the oil embargo that was in place on banned tankers even before Maduro was ousted from power on Saturday morning and use that influence as a means to pressure for policy changes in Venezuela.

stop drug trafficking

Rubio said in a channel program, therefore, when the President says this, he is referring to this type of control. He said we will continue that ban, and we hope there will be changes in the way the oil industry is run not only for the benefit of the people, but also so that they can prevent drug trafficking.

Blockade of banned oil tankers

Rubio said the blockade of sanctioned oil tankers is still in place, and is a tremendous pressure tactic that will remain in place until we see changes that not only advance America’s paramount national interest, but also lead to a better future for the Venezuelan people. America has also seized many Venezuelan tankers under this blockade. Trump reiterated more than six times at a news conference in Florida on Saturday that the United States would take over Venezuela’s governance, raising concerns among some Democrats.