Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared on Tuesday that Venezuela must undergo a transitional period and hold democratic elections, while emphasizing the need for patience during this process.
During an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” program, Rubio stated, “Ultimately, there will have to be a transition phase. There will have to be free and fair elections in Venezuela. And that point has to come.”
“We have to be patient, but we also can’t be complacent,” he added.
These comments come after U.S. military forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during a fatal operation in January, which President Donald Trump had authorized. The United Nations’ human rights office has declared this action violated international law.
Trump previously announced that Washington would “run” Venezuela following the operation. Maduro’s former vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, has since assumed control of the nation under American supervision.
In the wake of developments in Venezuela, Trump has discussed potential action against Cuba and applying pressure to its government.
During Tuesday’s interview, Rubio emphasized that Cuba requires both economic and governmental changes, hinting that Washington would soon announce developments regarding that nation.
“So I think Cuba is in need of two things, economic reforms and political reforms, you cannot fix their economy if you don’t change their system of government,” Rubio explained.
The United States halted Venezuela’s oil shipments to Cuba after removing Maduro in early January, with Trump warning of severe tariffs against any nation that provides crude oil to Cuba.
Cuba’s resulting energy shortage has led to widespread power outages throughout the nation of 10 million residents. Medical authorities report that the crisis has heightened mortality risks for cancer patients, particularly children.
Human rights analysts argue that Trump’s emphasis on controlling Venezuelan oil resources and his threats toward Cuba reflect an imperialist strategy.
