Washington, Jan 5 (NationPress) The Trump administration aimed to counter criticism regarding its actions in Venezuela, claiming that the detention of Nicolás Maduro was a precisely targeted law enforcement measure, not the beginning of a new conflict or military intervention.

During an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed the notion that the United States is engaged in warfare with Venezuela. "There’s not a war," Rubio asserted, highlighting that Washington is "at war against drug trafficking organizations — not at war against Venezuela."

Rubio clarified that the operation was executed under US legal authority to apprehend a wanted drug trafficker and did not constitute an invasion. "This was not an invasion," he emphasized on NBC. "This was a law enforcement operation."

On ABC’s This Week, Rubio noted that US forces were on the ground only briefly to carry out the arrest before withdrawing. He stressed that the operation was based on judicial warrants and enforcement of sanctions, not congressional approval for military action.

Rubio stated that the administration is now focused on maintaining pressure through sanctions and maritime enforcement. On CBS’s Face the Nation, he mentioned that the United States is enforcing an oil "quarantine" through legal orders to seize sanctioned shipments.

"That leverage remains," Rubio stated to CBS News, emphasizing that the pressure will persist until changes occur that align with US interests and benefit the people of Venezuela.

Rubio also responded to ongoing inquiries about who is "running" Venezuela, stating that Washington is not governing the nation but influencing outcomes through policy tools.

"What we are running is policy," he said, referencing efforts to combat drug trafficking, dismantle criminal organizations, and eliminate the presence of foreign militant groups.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz echoed this sentiment on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, asserting that the operation was warranted under international law and framed as an act of self-defense.

"This is our hemisphere," Waltz declared on Fox News. "We are not going to allow it to become a base of operation for adversaries."

Waltz pointed to alleged connections between Maduro and China, Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, arguing that decisive action was crucial to safeguarding US security.

Rubio indicated that while future measures are not off the table, there are currently no US troops stationed in Venezuela. "We don’t have US forces on the ground," he reiterated on NBC.

In response to questions about elections and political transition, Rubio urged a practical approach. "These things take time," he remarked on CBS. "There’s a process."

The administration has stated that it will assess Venezuela’s future actions based on results rather than promises, while continuing to apply pressure until US security concerns are addressed.