US Holds All Options Open for Venezuela, Including Military Intervention, While Tightening Oil Blockade
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The United States is not ruling out a military occupation of Venezuela following the potential capture of Nicolás Maduro, with the current governance signaling a willingness to “administer” the country in the interim.This comes alongside a continued and potentially escalating oil blockade designed to exert significant pressure on the South American nation.
Assessing the Post-Maduro Landscape
A senior official reiterated this morning on CBS news’ “Face the Nation” that President Trump does not intend to publicly limit the range of available responses, though a ground troop deployment is not currently anticipated. “He doesn’t feel like he’s going to publicly rule out options available to the United States, even though (troops on the ground) is not what you’re seeing right now,” the official stated. Instead, the focus remains on economic leverage.
The current strategy centers on an oil blockade, which the official described as a tool to “exert enormous influence over what happens next.” This involves targeting sanctioned oil shipments; any vessel carrying such cargo is subject to seizure upon a U.S. court order.
Opposition Role Remains unclear
The future role of the Venezuelan opposition,especially figures like Nobel Prize winner María Corina Machado,remains deliberately ambiguous. When pressed for a clear policy stance on the legitimacy of opposition leaders following the disputed 2024 elections, the official offered a cautious response.
“We are going to do our evaluations of the people,” the official explained. “We are going to do an evaluation based on what they do, not what they say publicly…not necessarily what you know they have done in the past, but what they do from now on.” This suggests a pragmatic approach, prioritizing future actions over past affiliations. The evaluation will also extend to vice President Delcy Rodríguez, currently positioned as a potential successor to Maduro.
A Wait-and-See Approach with Firm Leverage
the official acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding future decisions by Venezuelan leaders. “You’re asking me, how do I know what decisions people are going to make? I don’t know,” they admitted. However, they emphasized the U.S. commitment to protecting its interests. “What I do know is that if they don’t make the right decisions, the United States will retain multiple levers of influence to ensure that our interests are protected.”
The oil quarantine is central to this strategy. “There is currently a quarantine where sanctioned oil shipments…we get a court order, we will seize it. That is still in effect, and it is indeed a tremendous amount of influence that will continue to be in effect until we see changes that not only advance the national interest of the United States, which is the most vital thing, but also lead to a better future for the people of Venezuela.”
The official concluded by reiterating a commitment to judging future actions objectively.
Clarification of Changes & Answers to Questions:
* Why: The U.S. is maintaining a firm stance on Venezuela to protect its interests and potentially facilitate a change in leadership, specifically targeting Nicolás Maduro. The oil blockade is a key tool in this strategy.
* Who: Key players include the U.S.administration (President Trump and unnamed senior officials), Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan opposition (
