WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio exercises extensive authority over Venezuela’s financial, political, and foreign policy decisions through interim President Delcy Rodríguez, following the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in January 2026. This control spans revenue management, government appointments, and restrictions on public messaging and international engagement.

Rubio and the State Department have direct control over Venezuela's export revenue, with the U.S. Treasury collecting most of the country’s export proceeds and disbursing them through Venezuela’s private banks. Rubio sets the conditions on who may spend these funds and what the Venezuelan government is authorized to purchase with them. He also oversees the application of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela and determines which entities are permitted to conduct business in the country.

Delcy Rodríguez, who serves as Venezuela’s interim president, runs most high-level government appointments by Rubio for approval. She also extradites Venezuelans who have drawn scrutiny from the U.S. Justice Department. In January 2026, Rubio contacted Rodríguez by phone and communicates with her regularly via WhatsApp in Spanish. Despite this close coordination, Rubio has not visited Venezuela since January 2026.

Foreign policy directives from Caracas now require U.S. clearance. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil released a statement condemning the war with Iran, but the U.S. administration instructed Rodríguez to have him retract it. Gil deleted the statement within hours. Additionally, Venezuela recently assumed control of oil projects it co-owns with Russia’s state-run Rosneft, an action that followed Rubio’s warning to Rodríguez against doing business with U.S. adversaries.

Rubio addressed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in January 2026, stating, “There is no war against Venezuela, and we did not occupy a country. There are no US troops on the ground.” That same month, U.S. President Donald Trump relayed that Rodríguez had told Rubio she is “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again.” Rodríguez has also declined some public appearances without Trump’s approval and reportedly conditioned a potential interview with Fox News host Bret Baier on receiving Trump’s consent.

The relationship has drawn criticism from Venezuela’s exiled opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who is blocked by Rodríguez’s government from returning to Venezuela. In a video address last month, Machado said she is “willing to do whatever it takes” to get back and assist relief efforts following deadly earthquakes in early July 2026 that killed over 4,000 people. Rubio co-signed a letter supporting Machado’s nomination for the Nobel Prize, though she is described in some accounts as a Nobel laureate—a claim that appears inconsistent with the nomination.

Why It Matters

The extent of U.S. oversight over Venezuela’s governance marks a significant shift in the country’s sovereignty following Maduro’s capture. With Venezuela’s export revenue, ministerial appointments, and diplomatic statements subject to U.S. approval, the interim government functions under close American direction. This arrangement raises questions about the nature of Venezuela’s autonomy and the long-term implications for its political and economic recovery.