Subject: meanwhile, in Venezuela
Rubio says US ready to use force to ensure Venezuela’s cooperation

(Bloomberg) -- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration is prepared to use force to ensure that Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez cooperates to the greatest extent possible with the US, while hoping that self-interest will motivate her to advance key American objectives.

Rodríguez has committed to opening Venezuela’s energy sector to US companies, provide preferential access to production and use money from oil sales to buy American goods, Rubio said in remarks prepared for delivery at a hearing with lawmakers on Wednesday.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news...

CIA quietly building permanent US footprint in Venezuela

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is quietly laying the groundwork for a sustained U.S. presence inside Venezuela as part of the Trump administration’s effort in the country after the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro, CNN reported Tuesday.

Behind the scenes, officials from the CIA and the State Department have been discussing what America’s footprint inside Venezuela should look like in both the immediate aftermath of Maduro’s removal and over the long term, the outlet reported. While the State Department is expected to serve as the official diplomatic face of the U.S. in Venezuela, sources told the outlet that the intelligence agency will be relied upon heavily in the early stages of the country’s political transition.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news...

Steve