In a recent appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined the United States’ comprehensive approach to managing Venezuela’s current situation. He made it clear that a coalition of U.S. agencies—including the State Department, the Pentagon, and the Department of Justice—are collaboratively steering the course for Venezuela during this transitional period.

“This effort involves the entire national security apparatus of our nation,” Rubio emphasized to host Kristen Welker. He stressed that the primary objective is to implement policy changes in Venezuela that align with U.S. interests.

Following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, President Trump announced that his administration intends to oversee the country until a secure and orderly transition can be established. He also mentioned that American oil companies are poised to revitalize Venezuela’s struggling petroleum infrastructure.

With its vast oil reserves, Venezuela remains a significant point of interest on the global stage. Rubio highlighted that, in the immediate future, the U.S. plans to tackle pressing issues, such as curbing the drug trade and halting the movement of sanctioned oil. Once these challenges are managed, Venezuela will proceed with holding elections, he assured.

Rubio told NBC that in the short term, the U.S. will address issues such as the flow of drugs and transport of sanctioned oil from Venezuela. Elections will be held in the South American country once those concerns are alleviated, he noted.

“We want a better future for Venezuela,” Rubio added. “And we think a better future for the people of Venezuela also is stabilizing for the region and makes the neighborhood we live in a much better and safer place.”

“All of the problems we had when Maduro was there, we still have those problems in terms of them needing to be addressed,” he said later in the interview. “We are going to give people an opportunity to address those challenges and those problems.”

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed power upon Maduro’s capture, with Trump saying Saturday that Rubio spoke to her after the operation. The president also said that opposition leader María Corina Machado lacks the support or respect to run Venezuela.

International observers, including the U.S., have said that Edmundo González, who Machado backed, defeated Maduro with overwhelming support in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election. Maduro, though, clung to power.