By Jen Judson
January 4, 2026 - 9:06 AM - Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US plans to implement an oil "quarantine" to achieve its goals with Venezuela's new leadership after the removal of President Nicolas Maduro.
Amid uncertainty regarding the United States' approach towards Maduro's remaining officials, Rubio emphasized that Venezuela needs to cut ties with Iran, Hezbollah, and Cuba, stop drug trafficking, and ensure that its oil sector does not benefit US adversaries.
“Currently, there is an oil quarantine in place. If a sanctioned oil shipment is identified, we will obtain a court order and seize it,” Rubio mentioned during an appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation. He described this move as “a tremendous amount of leverage” for the US in seeking change in Venezuela.
President Donald Trump indicated that US oil companies might invest billions to rebuild Venezuela’s oil sector, particularly after detailing how Maduro and his wife were captured and brought to the US to face charges in New York.
Rubio mentioned that a global shortage of heavy crude could aid this process.
“I haven’t spoken to US oil companies in a few days, but we believe there will be significant interest from Western companies,” Rubio noted on ABC’s This Week. “Non-Russian, non-Chinese firms will definitely show interest, especially since our Gulf Coast refineries excel at processing heavy crude.”
“There will be immense interest — if we can approach it correctly,” he added.
Rubio offered few details about the next steps in Venezuela after Trump expressed intentions to collaborate with acting president Delcy Rodríguez for a transition to democracy. So far, she and other Venezuelan leaders have not shown cooperation.
When asked on CBS about the timing of potential elections in Venezuela, Rubio replied, “These things take time — there’s a process.” He did not provide further details. “We’re going to assess their actions, not just their public statements in the meantime… but what they do moving forward.”
Rubio pointed to Venezuela’s oil industry as crucial for a strong economy. “At this moment, the oil industry is inefficient,” he stated on Face the Nation. “None of the oil revenue reaches the people; it is all captured by those in power, which is why we have a quarantine.”
This blockade will remain active “until we witness changes that not only serve US national interests, which come first, but also contribute to a brighter future for the Venezuelan people.”
Rubio highlighted that US forces in the region are capable of intercepting not only drug boats, but also any sanctioned vessels, effectively paralyzing the regime's revenue streams.