WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the Trump administration’s oil partnership with Venezuela, rejecting accusations that Washington’s interest in the country is driven primarily by a desire to control its vast petroleum resources.
Rubio argued that closer energy cooperation with the United States offers Venezuela a better alternative than allowing its oil sector to remain heavily influenced by China, Russia and Iran.
“Those oil fields were dominated by China, Russia and Iran. Venezuela is much better off partnering with the United States,” Rubio said.
The Secretary of State said previously unproductive oil fields could begin generating royalties and other revenues for Venezuelans as production is restored or expanded.
According to Rubio, those revenues should eventually be administered by a democratically elected Venezuelan government, ensuring that the country’s petroleum wealth benefits its population.
He said the objective is to prevent oil revenues from ending up “in the pocket of some corrupt official” or falling under the control of countries Washington considers adversaries of both the United States and Venezuela.
Rubio’s comments also provide a geopolitical justification for the Trump administration’s growing involvement in Venezuela’s oil sector. Rather than portraying the policy solely as an energy strategy, he framed it as an effort to shift Venezuela away from Chinese, Russian and Iranian influence.
The comments come as the future of Venezuela’s enormous petroleum resources becomes increasingly important to relations between Caracas and Washington.
Rubio made clear that the United States does not intend to see Venezuela’s principal economic resource return to the level of influence previously exercised by China, Russia and Iran.
His remarks also suggest that Washington views energy cooperation as part of a broader political transition, linking the future management of Venezuela’s oil revenues to the eventual establishment of a democratically elected government.