U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that there is no need to notify Congress about the operation to capture Nicolás Maduro because it is not an invasion.
On Sunday, 4 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, told ABC News he was asked why the United States did not seek congressional approval before initiating operations in Venezuela.
Rubio replied there was no need to notify Congress because "it’s not necessary, since this is not an invasion," adding it was a law enforcement operation and that Maduro was arrested by FBI agents.
He added that you cannot inform Congress about operations of this nature because "the information would leak."
When NBC News asked if the U.S. was at war with Venezuela, Rubio affirmed, "That is not a war."
"I mean, we are at war with drug trafficking organizations, but that is not a war with the country of Venezuela," Rubio said, adding that operations to seize ships "transporting drugs bound for the United States" will continue.
Previously, Rubio stated the U.S. has frozen Venezuelan oil assets, which gives the U.S. leverage they intend to use, as Venezuela is at a crossroads for many of our adversaries, and the U.S. wants to make the country "no longer a haven for drug trafficking."
"Of course we want a better future for the Venezuelan people," Rubio said, adding that the U.S. wants Venezuela’s oil industry wealth to reach the "people."
When asked what legal authority the U.S. uses to carry out such actions, Rubio countered, "We have court orders... isn’t the court the legal authority?"
When asked if the U.S. is governing Venezuela, Rubio said the U.S. is "setting the direction" to move things forward.
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Source:bbc