Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed concerns that recent diplomatic interactions with Venezuela signal legitimacy for its current leadership. The remarks came after a government representative visited Caracas in late January, leading to the return of six American citizens previously detained in the country.
During a recent radio interview, Rubio was asked about the visit of a special envoy and his meeting with the Venezuelan leader, which facilitated both the Americans’ release and an agreement for Venezuela to accept the return of some of its nationals, including individuals affiliated with criminal organizations who had entered the United States unlawfully. Rubio emphasized that Venezuela has an international obligation to accept its citizens who are residing illegally in other nations.
Rubio also highlighted that the Venezuelan government had previously halted deportation flights as a means of exerting political pressure but asserted that the current U.S. administration would not be subjected to such tactics.
Concerns over Venezuela’s recent election were also reiterated, with claims that the results did not accurately reflect the will of the people. Rubio reaffirmed that the U.S. does not recognize Venezuela’s current leader as legitimate, citing his continued alliances with foreign adversaries and actions that threaten regional stability. Additionally, he pointed to the presence of criminal groups originating from Venezuela that have entered the United States.
In response to these developments, the U.S. government announced the revocation of a key oil license that had previously provided economic relief to Venezuela. The decision was framed as a reversal of prior policy concessions, with Rubio emphasizing that electoral conditions in Venezuela had not been met and that the country had not fulfilled commitments related to the repatriation of individuals involved in criminal activities.
The administration reaffirmed its stance against legitimizing the current Venezuelan leadership while maintaining a firm approach to ensuring that agreements are upheld in both economic and security matters.
