US President Donald Trump has suggested that the American operation in Venezuela may have been driven by personal political motives and linked to the position of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a descendant of Cuban immigrants.

During an interview on Fox News, the discussion focused on Cuba’s dependence on Venezuela, both financially and in terms of oil supplies. Against this backdrop, Trump was asked whether the US operation against Caracas could be interpreted as a form of retaliation directed at Cuba. He did not rule out such a possibility. At the same time, Trump stated that the United States, according to him, wants to help Cuba.

On January 3, the United States carried out a large-scale strike on Venezuela. During the operation, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were detained and taken to New York. The US authorities stated that Maduro and Flores would stand trial over alleged involvement in «narco-terrorism» and for posing a threat, including to the United States. During a court hearing in New York, both Maduro and Flores declared their innocence and rejected all charges.

In response to the US actions, Caracas requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations. Venezuela’s Supreme Court temporarily transferred presidential powers to Vice President Delcy Rodriguez. On Monday, Rodriguez officially assumed the role of acting president and took the oath before the National Assembly.

The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela, called for the release of Maduro and his wife, and urged steps to prevent further escalation. Beijing echoed Moscow’s position, stating that the US actions violate international law. The operation was also sharply criticized by the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK.