Marco Rubio Testifies at Senate Hearing on Venezuela Operation and U.S. Policy

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified Wednesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a high‑profile hearing focused on U.S. policy toward Venezuela and broader national security concerns. Rubio defended the Trump administration’s recent military operation that ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and stressed that the United States is not at war with Venezuela, even as he acknowledged continued strategic pressures.

Rubio told lawmakers that the January 3 operation, which resulted in Maduro’s capture and detention, was a “strategic necessity” given the former leader’s ties to adversarial powers, and he outlined the administration’s goals for a “friendly, stable, prosperous Venezuela” as part of U.S. foreign policy objectives.

During the hearing, which took place before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Rubio faced questions from both Republicans and Democrats about the legality and implications of the Venezuela operation. Some senators pressed him to clarify whether the action constituted an act of war — an assertion he rejected, insisting it did not meet the constitutional definition of war despite the use of force.

Rubio also said that while the U.S. does not expect or intend to take further military action in Venezuela at this time, the administration reserves the right to use force to protect U.S. interests if necessary. He emphasized that the operation’s focus now is on diplomatic and strategic objectives, including stabilizing Venezuela’s oil industry and fostering a political transition.

The hearing drew significant attention from lawmakers concerned about executive overreach and the transparency of classified planning preceding the Maduro raid. Some senators criticized the administration for limited consultation with Congress before undertaking foreign military operations, highlighting ongoing tensions over war powers and oversight.

The session also touched on geopolitical issues beyond Venezuela. Rubio said technical talks with Denmark and Greenland had begun to address Arctic security concerns, underscoring the broad foreign policy scope covered in the hearing.

Rubio’s appearance, which started at 10 a.m. Eastern before the Senate committee, marks one of the most closely watched foreign policy testimonies of the year, highlighting escalated U.S. engagement in the Western Hemisphere and remaining questions over the limits of executive military authority.