Rubio played key role in Maduro’s capture and is now expected to oversee U.S. control of Venezuela

Secretary of State Marco Rubio helped steer President Trump toward a military operation that seized Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and is now expected to take the lead in overseeing U.S. control of Venezuela and in pressing for American access to its oil reserves. The push toward military action began during an Oval Office meeting that included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen.

Dan Caine; Mr. Trump called Richard Grenell and, "according to an official with knowledge of the meeting," said it was time for military action. The offensive culminated when Army Delta Force soldiers moved in to seize Mr. Maduro and his wife in a bunker in Caracas; they were flown out in shackles and ultimately taken to a detention center in New York to be tried on cocaine trafficking charges, and "at least 80 people were killed in the operation," a senior Venezuelan official said.

Mr. Trump has said the United States is "in charge" of Venezuela, and the president assigned Mr. Rubio to oversee the country, with the stated aim of getting Mr. Maduro’s allies to give the United States "total access" to Venezuela’s oil, the largest reserves in the world. Mr.

Key Topics

Politics, Marco Rubio, Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelan Oil, Donald Trump