Rubio says there’s ‘not a war against Venezuela’ despite U.S. capture of Maduro : NPR

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that the United States is not at war with Venezuela, adding that the U.S. is “making policy” in Venezuela – not with troops on the ground, but through financial pressure on former President Nicolas Maduro's remaining allies.

“We want Venezuela to move in a certain direction because we think it's not only good for the people of Venezuela, but it's in our national interest,” Rubio said in an interview with NBC. Meet the press.

Rubio, who is also President Trump's interim national security adviser, said the US would increase its influence through the existing “oil quarantine” imposed by US warships off the coast of Venezuela.

“Our military is helping the Coast Guard perform a law enforcement function, which is not only to capture Maduro, but also to enforce our sanctions,” Rubio said on the program. “And we think this is just a huge lever, an incredible disruptive lever that we intend to continue to use until we see the change that we need to see.”

Since September, U.S. forces have struck at least 35 ships carrying suspected drugs, killed at least 115 people on board and seized oil tankers near Venezuela.

The comments provide the first glimpse of what U.S. policy toward Venezuela will look like following the weekend raid that captured the country's leader and Trump's remarks that the U.S. will “run” Venezuela.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, backed Rubio, calling for a pressure campaign against Maduro allies who still control the country. Cotton specifically named interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who previously served as vice president under Maduro.

“They control the military and security services,” Cotton told CNN. “We have to deal with that fact.”

During a Sunday interview with Atlantic Trump Magazine said Rodriguez “will pay a very big price” if she refuses to cooperate, a day after he said she supported US plans.

The Trump administration's actions over the weekend are likely to see the first signs of domestic resistance this week from Democrats in Congress.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., condemned Trump for ordering Saturday's military operation without consulting Congress. The administration argues it did not need to notify Congress because Maduro was arrested as part of a law enforcement action. The Venezuelan president will appear before a New York judge on Monday.

“They entered Venezuela, bombed both civilian and military targets,” Schumer said. “And to do what they did without getting permission from Congress is against the law.”

Schumer said Sunday he plans to hold a vote on military powers resolution this week that would limit Trump's ability to attack Venezuela without congressional approval.

“If both houses vote yes, then the president will not be able to do anything in Venezuela without the approval of Congress,” Schumer said.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is the only GOP member to publicly support the resolution so far. Unlike other measures, the resolution must pass a simple majority in the Senate—meaning only three Republicans would have to support it to advance the measure. It is unclear whether the measure has support from Republicans other than Paul.