Rubio, who has previously criticized both Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chávez, will be actively involved in creating a transitional governance system for the country.
After U.S. special forces captured Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on January 3, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would control Venezuela until a "safe, proper, and reasonable transfer of power." However, the details of this governance were not disclosed.
Trump also did not rule out the possibility of deploying American troops in Venezuela and launching a "second wave" of strikes, although he noted that this may not be necessary. He also promised that American companies would invest significant funds in restoring Venezuela's oil infrastructure.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump's national security team is already developing a governance structure for Venezuela, which includes Marco Rubio, Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Venezuela appointed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as the interim head of state, who condemned the actions of the U.S., calling them "military aggression," and confirmed that Nicolás Maduro remains the legitimate president of the country.
Trump added that an American military presence in the country would not be necessary if Delcy Rodríguez acted according to their expectations. He also dismissed the possibility of Venezuelan opposition figures, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, participating in the future governance of Venezuela.
