Rubio Seizes Control of Venezuela's Oil Revenue After Maduro's Jan. 3 Removal
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 13
Rubio Seizes Control of Venezuela's Oil Revenue After Maduro's Jan. 3 Removal
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 13
Summary
Months after U.S. commandos removed Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, Marco Rubio has become Venezuela’s de facto ruler, according to officials cited by the New York Times.
Rubio’s leverage runs through money: the U.S. Treasury now receives most Venezuelan export revenue and releases funds back to Caracas under conditions set by Rubio and his team.
Delcy Rodríguez, left running Venezuela with U.S. backing, stays in close contact with Rubio, who has influenced cabinet picks, public messaging and the purge of Maduro relatives and business allies.
That reach has extended to security matters, with Rubio pressing Venezuelan officials for intelligence that helped the U.S. military kill a Tren de Aragua leader.
The arrangement underscores a Trump-era model of U.S. power in which Washington says it aims to rebuild Venezuela’s economy, stabilize the country and eventually steer it toward democracy.
With Maduro gone but his party in power, is the U.S. building a democracy or simply a more compliant client state?
Can the U.S. rebuild Venezuela's economy when its new laws deter the very investors the country desperately needs?
A soldier bet on the secret raid using classified data. What does this scandal reveal about the operation's integrity?
Venezuela Under U.S. Administration (2026): Oil Revenues, Democratic Challenges, and Geopolitical Shifts
Overview
In early January 2026, after the capture of Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro, the United States took direct control of Venezuela’s government and economy. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. was now running Venezuela and would continue until the country’s failing oil infrastructure was rebuilt. The U.S. quickly began managing Venezuela’s oil revenues by depositing proceeds into a U.S. Treasury account, justifying this move as a response to Venezuela’s growing ties with U.S. adversaries like Iran, China, and Russia. Despite these actions, the U.S. administration did not provide clear plans for Venezuela’s future after Maduro’s removal.