U.S. will leave Venezuelan regime in place if it complies with Washington, Rubio says

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. will leave Venezuela's regime in place so long as it complies with U.S. demands on drug trafficking and the oil industry.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio signalled that the United States will keep Venezuela's current regime in place for now if it follows U.S. demands on drug trafficking and on the country's oil sector. This statement followed a reported U.S. action that resulted in the detention of Venezuela's leader, who is now facing charges in U.S. federal court. Venezuela's top court has been reported to confirm that Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez would assume the president's powers. Rubio said a transition that involves opposition leaders would be deferred while the U.S. deals with officials who appear to remain in control. What officials reported: - Rubio said the U.S. will leave the Venezuelan regime in place so long as it complies with U.S. demands to stop drug trafficking and change how its oil industry is used. - The article reports that Venezuela's leader was detained and has been charged in U.S. federal court, and that he appeared briefly in a video while in custody. - Venezuela's top court is reported to have confirmed that Vice‑President Delcy Rodríguez would assume the president's powers, and President Trump publicly suggested the U.S. would work through her. Summary: Rubio's comments indicate U.S. engagement will focus on enforcing specific conditions with Venezuela's current authorities rather than immediately enabling a political transition involving opposition leaders. The situation follows a reported U.S. detention of Nicolás Maduro and a top-court confirmation of Delcy Rodríguez assuming presidential powers. Undetermined at this time.