- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
U.S. Prepared to Use Force to Ensure Venezuela's Cooperation
Secretary of State Rubio says America will not shy away from using force if needed to achieve its objectives in Venezuela.
Jan. 28, 2026 at 5:15am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a Senate committee that the United States is prepared to use force to ensure Venezuela's 'acting President' Delcy Rodríguez cooperates with American objectives. Rubio said the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela, but will not hesitate to use additional force if needed to secure Venezuela's cooperation following the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro.
Why it matters
The Trump administration has taken an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Venezuelan regime, including the capture of Maduro and military strikes on drug-trafficking vessels. Rubio's comments signal the U.S. is willing to escalate its use of force to achieve its goals in the region, raising concerns about potential military conflict.
The details
Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that 'We are prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail.' He said the U.S. hopes force will not prove necessary, but 'we will never shy away from our duty to the American people and our mission in this Hemisphere.' Rubio is expected to defend the administration's actions against the Venezuelan regime, including the capture of Maduro and seizure of sanctioned oil tankers.
- Rubio is scheduled to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday morning.
- The U.S. conducted a law enforcement operation in Caracas on January 3 that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
The players
Marco Rubio
The U.S. Secretary of State who has taken a hardline stance against the Venezuelan regime.
Delcy Rodríguez
The 'acting President' of Venezuela who Rubio says must cooperate with American objectives.
Nicolás Maduro
The former dictator of Venezuela who was captured by U.S. forces on January 3 and is currently detained in the U.S.
Donald Trump
The President of the United States who has supported the administration's aggressive actions against Venezuela.
Scott Bessent
The U.S. Treasury Secretary who has also taken a tough stance against the Venezuelan regime.
What they’re saying
“We are prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail. It is our hope that this will not prove necessary, but we will never shy away from our duty to the American people and our mission in this Hemisphere.”
— Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State (Bloomberg)
“There is no war against Venezuela, and we did not occupy a country. There are no U.S. troops on the ground. This was an operation to aid law enforcement.”
— Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State (ABC News)
What’s next
The judge in Maduro's case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow him to be released on bail.
The takeaway
Rubio's comments signal the U.S. is willing to escalate its use of force against the Venezuelan regime, raising concerns about potential military conflict and the administration's long-term strategy in the region.
