The White House: We have absolute leverage in Venezuela and a transition plan
In a striking development reflecting a radical shift in the Latin American geopolitical landscape, the White House emphasized that the United States now enjoys “maximum leverage” over the interim authorities in Venezuela, following the dramatic events that led to the arrest of ousted President Nicolás Maduro. The US administration confirmed that it will directly dictate the decisions made by the new authorities in Caracas, effectively placing the country under Washington’s political and economic control at this critical juncture.
White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt, in a press briefing that reflected a firm tone, stated: “We continue to coordinate closely with the interim authorities, and the United States will continue to dictate their decisions.” Leavitt added, emphasizing the depth of American control: “We naturally have maximum leverage with the interim authorities,” indicating Washington’s desire to reshape the Venezuelan landscape to serve its strategic interests without any pretense.
Rubio's plan: Stability then oil
In response to criticism from US lawmakers who questioned the administration's preparedness for a post-Maduro era, Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled a comprehensive strategy comprised of three main phases. "The bottom line is that we've gone into a lot of detail with them about the planning, and it's not just improvisation," Rubio told reporters after a closed-door meeting in Congress, explaining that the plan aims to ensure a smooth and deliberate transition.
Rubio outlined the three phases as follows: The first phase begins with establishing security and political stability in the country, which has suffered from prolonged unrest. This is followed by the second phase, called "recovery," which is central to US economic interests and involves ensuring fair access for American and Western companies to the Venezuelan market, particularly the energy sector.
The importance of Venezuelan oil and its economic dimension
The second phase of Rubio's plan is of paramount importance given that Venezuela possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves. Venezuela's oil sector has suffered for years from deteriorating infrastructure, sanctions, and mismanagement. Observers believe that the return of major US companies to invest in this sector would not only help revive Venezuela's shattered economy but would also grant the United States strategic control over one of the world's most important energy resources, potentially impacting global oil prices and market balances.
In this context, Levitt confirmed that President Trump will meet with officials from major oil companies to discuss the “tremendous opportunity” currently available in Venezuela, confirming that the economic and energy dimension is at the heart of the recent US move.
The future of the political process
As for the third phase, Rubio referred to it as the “transition process,” without elaborating on the specifics of the future political system. Regarding democracy, Washington reiterated that it was “premature” to discuss holding elections at this time, indicating that the current US priority is to stabilize Venezuela’s internal situation and secure economic interests before moving on to electoral processes.
