US Military Will Remain in Caribbean to Exert Leverage on Venezuela, Rubio Says

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a press conference as (L to R) Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, U.S. President Donald Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine listen at Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., on Jan. 3, 2026. Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Jan. 4 that the Pentagon will maintain its military blockade around Venezuela to apply leverage to the country’s socialist regime—which is now being run by Delcy Rodríguez, who served as vice president and oil minister under Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro following his capture by U.S. forces.Rubio told CBS News’ “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Sunday that the United States is keeping an oil “quarantine” or blockade in place around Venezuela’s coasts, pointing to the export as being a key source of revenue for the regime.