WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that the goal of the US military operation in Venezuela was primarily to halt drug trafficking into his country.
"We are at war against drug trafficking organizations, not a war against Venezuela," he said in an interview to NBC News' Meet the Press" in the wake US operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife on Saturday.
Holding elections in Venezuela would be "premature at this point," he said, adding, "We care about elections, we care about democracy, we care about all of that, but the No. 1 thing we care about is the safety, security, well-being and prosperity of the United States. And that's what we're going to focus on first and foremost here." He echoed his statement yesterday at a press conference alongside President Donald Trump, that the strikes on Venezuela and the capture of Maduro were simply a law enforcement action and not the start of a war.
Rubio categorically denied that Congress needed to approve this military action ahead of time.
"We will seek congressional approval for actions that require congressional approval -- and this is not an operation that required congressional approval," he added.
Earlier today, Venezuela's Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court assigned Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the duties of acting president due to the absence of Maduro. (end) amm.gb