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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that the Trump administration is prepared to use additional military force against Venezuela if its interim leadership fails to meet U.S. expectations, as he testified for the first time before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since the removal of former President Nicolas Maduro.

Appearing before the committee less than a month after U.S. forces captured Maduro in a high-risk operation, Rubio defended the administration’s actions and rejected claims that Washington is at war with Venezuela or occupying the country.

He described the previous government as an “untenable situation” that had to be addressed, while emphasizing that the administration’s stated goal is a transition toward a democratic and stable Venezuela.

In prepared remarks submitted to the committee, Rubio said the administration would not hesitate to escalate if cooperation from Venezuela’s interim leadership falters. “We are prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail,” Rubio wrote.

“We hope that this will not prove necessary, but we will never shy away from our duty to the American people and our mission in this hemisphere.”

Rubio said the United States is not at war with Venezuela and insisted the recent operation was limited in scope and intent.

“There is no war against Venezuela, and we did not occupy a country,” he said, adding that “There are no U.S. troops on the ground. This was an operation to aid law enforcement.”

"But I will tell you this, since the time Maduro was removed, not a single illegal ship has headed towards Venezuela … What's really changed is the dynamic that the Venezuelan interim authorities are now actually helping us identify shadow fleet ships that they want us to seize… pic.twitter.com/XipnRMeZCv

— Department of State (@StateDept) January 28, 2026

The secretary of state, who also serves as President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, argued that Maduro’s removal was justified on drug trafficking charges and said continued military strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels remain necessary.

Defense of Trump’s Venezuela Policy

Rubio’s testimony marked the first public appearance by a senior administration official explaining the president’s controversial Latin America policy, which included months of maritime operations targeting suspected drug trafficking boats and the seizure of sanctioned tankers carrying Venezuelan oil.

According to Rubio, the Maduro government had turned Venezuela into a hub for U.S. adversaries. “The Maduro regime represented an untenable situation,” he told senators, saying it provided “a base of operation for virtually every competitor, adversary and enemy in the world.”

He acknowledged that rebuilding Venezuela would take time. “We’re not going to get there in three weeks,” Rubio said, referring to the administration’s stated objective of restoring democratic governance.

During unscripted opening remarks, Rubio described elections as the “endgame” of U.S. policy, while warning that the transition would be difficult.

“The end state here is we want to reach a phase of transition where we are left with a friendly, stable, prosperous Venezuela, and democratic, in which all elements of society are represented in free and fair elections,” he said.

No US Ground Troops in Venezuela

Rubio repeatedly assured lawmakers that the United States does not plan to deploy ground forces in Venezuela. He said the only potential U.S. military presence would be Marine guards assigned to protect an embassy if diplomatic operations resume.

“The only military presence you will see in Venezuela is our Marine guards at an embassy,” Rubio said. “That is our goal. That is our expectation.” He later added that the administration does not intend to conduct further military action.

“With full certainty,” Rubio told senators, the U.S. is “not postured to, nor do we intend or expect to have to take any military action in Venezuela at any time.”

Those assurances appeared aimed at calming concerns raised by lawmakers from both parties over the scope of presidential authority and the risk of deeper U.S. involvement.

Congressional Pushback and War Powers Debate

While Republicans have largely backed Trump’s aggressive posture in the Western Hemisphere, the Venezuela operation triggered renewed debate in Congress over war powers.

Earlier this month, five Republicans joined all Democrats to advance a war powers resolution that would require the president to seek congressional authorization for further military action against Venezuela. The effort later stalled after two Republican senators voted against moving to a final vote.

Senator Todd Young of Indiana, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said he reversed his position after receiving assurances directly from Trump. Young said the president committed to coming to Congress for formal authorization if “American forces were needed in major military operations in Venezuela.”

Democratic Criticism Over Costs and Strategy

Democrats on the committee challenged Rubio’s characterization of events and questioned the sustainability of U.S. policy. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the committee’s ranking member, said cooperation from Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s deputy who is now serving as interim president, should not be taken at face value.

She described that cooperation as “tactical and temporary,” noting that Rodríguez said over the weekend that she has had “enough” of taking orders from the United States.

Shaheen also accused the administration of misplacing its priorities. “From Venezuela to Europe, the United States is spending more, risking more, and achieving less,” she said.

“And every day Americans are paying the price, both at the grocery store and in a more chaotic and less safe world. That does not project strength. It hands our adversaries exactly what they want.”

Ongoing Strikes and Oil Questions

The U.S. has continued to conduct strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats following Maduro’s capture. Since September, at least 126 people have been killed in such operations, according to figures cited during the hearing. The most recent strike, carried out on Jan. 23, was the first since Maduro was detained.

Questions have also intensified following Trump’s public remarks about “running” Venezuela and controlling its oil industry, raising uncertainty over the administration’s long-term intentions for the country.

Rubio rejected claims that the U.S. is seeking to occupy Venezuela or directly manage its resources, framing the actions instead as part of a law enforcement-driven effort to dismantle criminal networks.

"The only military presence you will see in Venezuela is our Marine guards at an embassy. That is our goal, that is our expectation, and that is what everything that outlines towards. That said, if an Iranian drone factory pops up and threatens our forces in the region, the… pic.twitter.com/uTh9njjkGU

— Department of State (@StateDept) January 28, 2026

Hearing Highlights Broader Tensions

The hearing also briefly touched on unrelated foreign policy issues, including Trump’s recent verbal misstep referring to Greenland as Iceland during a speech abroad. Rubio acknowledged the error, saying the president “meant to say Greenland” and dismissing it as a verbal stumble.

Despite sharp disagreements, the hearing underscored bipartisan concern over escalation risks and the absence of a clear timeline for Venezuela’s political transition.

As Rubio concluded his testimony, he reiterated that democracy remains the administration’s stated objective, while making clear that Washington is prepared to apply pressure, including military force, if it believes U.S. interests or regional security are at stake.