Rubio Defends U.S. Maduro Capture and Oil Takeover to CARICOM Leaders at St. Kitts Summit
At the St. Kitts CARICOM summit, Sen. Marco Rubio defended the U.S. ouster of Nicolás Maduro, telling leaders—via a State Department transcript—that "Venezuela is better off today than it was eight weeks ago" and that he has "no apology" for the operation, which he linked to an effective U.S. takeover of Venezuela’s oil sector and "substantial" improvements under interim authorities. Framing the administration’s Western Hemisphere policy as a 21st‑century "Donroe Doctrine," Rubio sought to soften its image while emphasizing shared security and energy interests and acknowledging that transnational criminal groups in the Caribbean are buying weapons from the U.S., which Washington says it is working to curb.
📌 Key Facts
- In closed‑door remarks to CARICOM leaders (captured in a State Department transcript), Rubio said "Venezuela is better off today than it was eight weeks ago" and that he has "no apology" for the U.S. operation that removed Maduro.
- Rubio explicitly linked the U.S. military operation to an effective U.S. takeover of Venezuela’s oil sector, saying that takeover has enabled "substantial" improvements under interim authorities.
- He framed the administration's Western Hemisphere policy to CARICOM as a 21st‑century Monroe Doctrine — the "Donroe Doctrine," a label used by President Trump — and presented it as focused on shared security and energy interests.
- Rubio publicly sought to soften the Donroe Doctrine's antagonistic image while emphasizing cooperation with Caribbean states on security and energy.
- He acknowledged that many transnational criminal organizations operating in the Caribbean are buying weapons that originated in the United States, and said Washington is working to address outbound arms flows.
- These comments were delivered to CARICOM leaders amid U.S. diplomatic outreach following the intervention in Venezuela's leadership and energy sector.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Provides detailed quotes from Rubio’s closed‑door remarks, via a State Department transcript, telling CARICOM leaders that 'Venezuela is better off today than it was eight weeks ago' and that he has 'no apology' for the operation.
- Explicitly links the U.S. military operation to an 'effective takeover' of Venezuela’s oil sector by the United States, which Rubio portrays as enabling 'substantial' improvements under interim authorities.
- Frames Trump’s Western Hemisphere policy to CARICOM as a 21st‑century incarnation of the Monroe Doctrine that Trump has dubbed the 'Donroe Doctrine,' with Rubio publicly trying to soften its antagonistic image while emphasizing shared security and energy interests.
- Details Rubio’s acknowledgment that many transnational criminal organizations in the Caribbean are buying weapons from the U.S. and his claim that Washington is working to address outbound arms flows.