In a January 4, 2026, interview on NBC’s, Meet the Press, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed claims that the United States is at war with Venezuela following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, instead describing the operation as a law-enforcement action tied to drug trafficking and sanctions enforcement.
“There’s not a war against Venezuela,” Rubio said, adding that the United States is engaged in a fight against transnational drug trafficking organizations, not the Venezuelan people. According to Rubio, U.S. actions, including the seizure of sanctioned oil shipments and maritime interdictions, are based on American court orders and long-standing law-enforcement authorities. Meet the Press, NBC Interview
Rubio stated that Maduro is now in U.S. custody and facing charges in the Southern District of New York. According to the U.S. indictment, the Maduro government is alleged to have cooperated with drug trafficking organizations operating routes toward the United States. Rubio characterized Maduro as the leader of a criminal network that, he said, used state security institutions to facilitate narcotics trafficking, claims long denied by Venezuelan officials.
When asked whether Washington is effectively governing Venezuela, Rubio pushed back on that characterization. He said the administration is “running policy,” not the country itself, and that U.S. involvement is focused on national security concerns that directly affect Americans. Rubio said the United States cannot allow a country in the Western Hemisphere to become a hub for drug trafficking or for the operations of U.S. adversaries.Meet the Press, NBC Interview
Rubio pointed to sanctions enforcement and coordinated legal actions as what he described as “significant leverage,” emphasizing that seizures of oil shipments occur only after warrants are obtained through U.S. courts. He said this pressure will continue until U.S. security concerns are addressed.Meet the Press, NBC Interview
Addressing questions about political transition, Rubio praised opposition figure María Corina Machado but said the immediate reality requires dealing with those currently controlling Venezuela’s security apparatus. He described elections as premature, citing past votes that, he said, were not properly counted. While reiterating support for democracy, Rubio said the administration’s short-term focus is security and stability.
On the question of U.S. military involvement, Rubio said there are no American forces stationed in Venezuela. He described the operation to apprehend Maduro as brief and limited, characterizing it as a law-enforcement mission supported by the military only to protect personnel.
Rubio also rejected suggestions that the United States is acting to seize Venezuelan oil for its own use. He said the U.S. government does not need Venezuela’s oil but opposes what he described as adversarial control of energy resources in the Western Hemisphere. Rubio argued that oil revenues, according to the U.S. government’s position, should benefit the Venezuelan people rather than political elites.
Responding to comparisons with past U.S. interventions in Iraq and Libya, Rubio said such analogies are misplaced. He argued that Venezuela’s situation is fundamentally different and that leaving an indicted leader in power would have posed a greater risk to regional stability.
“This was a law-enforcement function,” Rubio said, adding that the administration believes its actions ultimately serve both U.S. security interests and the future well-being of Venezuela.Meet the Press, NBC Interview
Source/Watch full Interview: Meet the Press, NBC Interview
Disclaimer: This article reports on statements made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a televised interview on NBC, Meet The Press. The views, allegations, and characterizations expressed are those of the speaker and reflect the position of the U.S. administration.
