U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. is not worried about escalating tensions with Russia in relation to Venezuela, despite the Trump administration’s military buildup in the Caribbean, which includes thousands of troops, an aircraft carrier, warships, and fighter jets.
Rubio mentioned that while Russia is expected to vocally support the Maduro regime, it does not influence U.S. considerations of the situation. Russia’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern over U.S. actions threatening international shipping but hopes the U.S. avoids serious mistakes regarding Venezuela.
The Trump administration aims to reassert dominance in the Western Hemisphere, referencing the Monroe Doctrine, and has engaged in strikes against drug trafficking vessels and blocked sanctioned oil tankers. Trump has warned of imminent military actions in Venezuela, while Democratic lawmakers criticized the administration for insufficient transparency about operations.
Rubio emphasized that current actions do not necessitate congressional notification or approval for entering a state of war.
With information from Reuters
