United States reveals three-step plan for Venezuela after forces seized leader Nicolas Maduro

The United States has a three-step plan for Venezuela that will begin with stabilising the country after US forces seized leader Nicolas Maduro, ensuring that US oil companies have access to the country during a recovery phase, and finally overseeing a transition, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says.

President Donald Trump has warned of further military operations against Venezuela if the members of Maduro’s inner circle who have stepped in to lead the country do not co-operate.

The Republican President said the US would refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude as US forces continued seizing oil tankers linked to Venezuela on Wednesday.

“The bottom line is that there is a process now in place where we have tremendous control and leverage over what those interim authorities are doing and are able to do,” said Mr Rubio, who spoke alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after a classified briefing to US senators on the administration’s plan for Venezuela.

“But obviously, this will be a process of transition. In the end, it will be up to the Venezuelan people to transform their country.”

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday it was too early for a timetable for elections in Venezuela.

“It’s too premature and too early to dictate a timetable for elections in Venezuela right now,” she said at a news briefing.

Mr Rubio suggested the oil seized by the US with sanctioned vessels would be sold as part of the deal announced by Mr Trump on Tuesday under which Venezuela would provide up to 50 million barrels of oil to the US.

“One of those ships that was seized that had oil in the Caribbean, you know what the interim authorities are asking for in Venezuela,” Mr Rubio said.

“They want that oil that was seized to be part of this deal. They understand that the only way they can move oil and generate revenue and not have economic collapse is if they co-operate and work with the United States.”

The press office for Venezuela’s Government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the seizures.

Mr Rubio did not provide details on Wednesday on the planned Venezuela transition phase.

Democrats expressed shock at the plans, which they said amounted to stealing oil but lacked details, and questioned why the plans could not be discussed in public hearings.

Mr Rubio told reporters the briefing included operational details that could not be made public but said after stopping Venezuela from “descending into chaos,” the US would begin a “recovery” phase that would mean “ensuring that American, Western and other companies have access to the Venezuelan market in a way that’s fair”.

“Also, at the same time, begin to create the process of reconciliation nationally within Venezuela, so that the opposition forces can be amnestied and released from prisons or brought back to the country, and begin to rebuild civil society,” Mr Rubio said.

“And then the third phase, of course, will be one of transition.”

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut called it “an insane plan”.

“They are talking about stealing the Venezuelan oil at gunpoint for a period of time undefined as leverage to micromanage the country. The scope and insanity of that plan is absolutely stunning,” Mr Murphy told reporters.

with AP