Rubio Says U.S. Negotiating Military Presence Agreement for Joint Operations in Venezuela

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is negotiating an agreement with Venezuela that would establish a military presence permitting American troops to operate jointly with Venezuelan forces. Rubio made the remarks in an interview with the New York Times, describing the desired arrangement as a “presence agreement.”

The comments come less than a year after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in an early-January operation. Rubio has previously stated that the only military presence expected inside Venezuela itself would be Marine guards at a reopened embassy, while emphasizing expanded security cooperation against cartels and foreign influence. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has separately noted that the United States is expanding its footprint in Central and South America with partners.

There are currently no permanent U.S. military bases in South America. Under Maduro, Venezuela had hosted drills involving Russian, Chinese, and Iranian forces. The administration has described the broader approach as focused on drug cartels and reducing adversarial presence in the hemisphere. President Trump has referenced economic benefits from Venezuelan oil and the strategic reserve.

State Department officials have led discussions on the pact. Congressional aides received briefings on the negotiations in late October. The talks occur against the backdrop of continued U.S. naval and air operations targeting narcotics trafficking in the Caribbean and Pacific approaches.