Secretary Marco Rubio Exercises De Facto Control Over Venezuela

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has established near-total de facto control over Venezuela from Washington, leading critics to describe him as a viceroy. This arrangement follows the January capture of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. commandos, who brought him to the United States on narco-terrorism charges.

Rubio manages the Venezuelan economy by routing export revenues, including petroleum, through the U.S. Treasury Department. These funds are dispersed back to Venezuela via private banks under strict conditions set by Rubio. His authority extends to approving Cabinet appointments, directing oil sector deals toward American firms, and overseeing the minister of defense. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez serves as the official figurehead, but she remains dependent on Rubio's directives for funding and government operations.

Rubio's stated strategy involves a three-phase plan to recover the economy, stabilize the country, and transition to democracy, though he retains discretion over when elections will occur. Recently, Rubio coordinated the deployment of 900 military personnel and $400 million in aid following earthquakes that killed more than 4,300 people. Despite these efforts, the administration has sidelined exiled opposition leader María Corina Machado, blocking her return to the country despite her offers to assist with disaster relief.