(Washington DC) - Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifying today before the Senate Foreign Relations committee about U.S. policy toward Venezuela.
Secretary Rubio says we have cooperation, respect and dialogue with Venezuela. However, a friendly, stable, democratic, prosperous Venezuela won't happen overnight.
But he adds that now, "Three of our adversaries, Iran, Russia and China, are no longer operating in our hemisphere from Venezuela."
Rubio says the country has the potential to be one of the wealthiest in the region and the U.S. has no intention to put any money into Venezuela.
In fact, the revenue from the sale of the country's vast oil supply will be held in trust to be used for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.
He says interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez must submit a budget every month to the US outlining how the money is spent on items such as medicine for the people.
He also plans to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at the State Department this afternoon.
He says this is the first time in a decade that we can change conditions in Venezuela and says, "no U.S. military action is planned in Venezuela."