US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed on Wednesday that the United States has a three-step plan for Venezuela following the recent military operation. The plan begins with restoring stability to the country, followed by overseeing economic and social recovery, and concludes with a phase of political transition.
Rubio explained during a briefing to members of the US Senate that the primary objective of the plan is to prevent Venezuela from sliding into chaos. He emphasised that what is taking place is not an impromptu action, but rather the result of meticulous planning.
Speaking to journalists after meeting lawmakers in Congress, Rubio said that the US administration has held in-depth discussions regarding the next steps.
The US Secretary of State indicated that the second phase, which he described as the recovery phase, aims to ensure fair access for American and Western companies to the Venezuelan market. This phase also includes launching a process of national reconciliation within Venezuela, encompassing amnesty for opposition forces, the release of detainees or their return to the country, and efforts to rebuild civil society.
Rubio added that the third phase will be the stage of political transition.
Cooperation of Venezuelan Authorities
In a related context, Rubio confirmed that Venezuelan officials are cooperating with the United States regarding an oil tanker that was detained in the Caribbean Sea. He explained that they understand that transporting oil, generating revenue, and avoiding economic collapse cannot occur except through cooperation with Washington.
Rubio also stated that US engagement in Venezuela will not cost the United States anything, noting that US forces in the Caribbean seized an oil tanker operating on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
He added that Venezuelan authorities requested access to the proceeds from the sale of oil from the recently detained tanker, stressing that Washington has significant leverage and control over the actions of the transitional authorities in Venezuela.
This comes after US officials told Reuters earlier on Wednesday that the United States had seized an oil tanker named Marinera, sailing under the Russian flag, in the North Atlantic near Iceland.
Two officials told Reuters that the operation took place after the tanker, previously known as Bella 1, managed to breach the US naval blockade imposed on sanctioned oil tankers in the Caribbean region and refused attempts by the US Coast Guard to board it.
A source speaking to Associated Press on condition of anonymity said that the US military succeeded in taking control of the vessel before handing it over to law enforcement authorities.
Detention of Sanctioned Ships
For their part, officials in the Trump administration announced Washington’s intention to continue detaining vessels linked to Venezuela and subject to sanctions, confirming that this policy will persist in the coming phase.
Rubio had previously confirmed in statements to NBC that the United States is resorting to the judiciary to obtain legal warrants allowing the detention of oil laden ships, stressing that these measures are continuing at present.
The United States began pursuing the tanker Marinera last month after it attempted to evade the US blockade imposed on sanctioned oil vessels linked to Venezuela.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said before the detention operation that it was closely monitoring what it described as an abnormal situation that had developed around the Russian oil tanker Marinera, according to the official news agency TASS.
The Russian Foreign Ministry added in a statement that a US Coast Guard vessel continued to pursue the tanker despite its presence at an estimated distance of about 4,000 kilometres from US shores.
