Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that the United States currently has no intention or preparation to use additional military force in Venezuela, reinforcing that the nation is not poised for a new military operation in the South American country at this time. However, he cautioned that emerging threats could alter that stance.
Rubio explained that, under current assessments, the U.S. does not foresee deploying troops or launching offensive operations against Venezuela’s interim government or territory. He emphasized that existing American forces are focused on other roles, such as embassy security, and that there is no active plan to escalate military involvement.
At the same time, Rubio made clear that the U.S. reserves the right to respond if an “imminent threat” to national security develops — for example, the sudden establishment of a hostile military capability that directly endangers American forces or interests in the region. In such a scenario, he said, the president could choose to use force in self-defense.
Rubio’s remarks came during a Senate hearing reviewing U.S. policy toward Venezuela following recent high-profile actions, including the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and related debates over U.S. engagement in the Western Hemisphere. He stressed that Washington prefers diplomatic and strategic pressure but will not rule out military options entirely if conditions dramatically change.