Rubio Says No Further U.S. Military Action Planned After Maduro Arrest

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated that Washington does not anticipate any additional military action in Venezuela following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, according to a Republican U.S. senator briefed on the matter.

Senator Mike Lee said he spoke directly with Rubio after U.S. forces carried out overnight strikes in Caracas that coincided with Maduro’s capture. Lee confirmed that the Venezuelan leader is now in U.S. custody and is expected to stand trial in the United States on criminal charges.

“He [Rubio] anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody,” Lee said, adding that the military strikes were “deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant.”

The operation, carried out in the early hours of Saturday, involved U.S. air and missile strikes near key strategic sites in Caracas, including the La Carlota air base and areas surrounding the presidential palace. Explosions and low-flying aircraft triggered panic among residents, with plumes of smoke visible across parts of the capital.

While U.S. officials have not released full operational details, the administration has framed the strikes as a limited mission tied directly to the arrest operation, rather than the start of a broader military campaign.

However, Lee himself raised constitutional concerns earlier, questioning the legal basis for the action. In a post on X, the Utah senator wrote that he was seeking clarity on “what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force.”

The arrest of Maduro marks a dramatic escalation in long-running tensions between Washington and Caracas, and represents an unprecedented move against a sitting head of state. U.S. authorities have accused Maduro for years of narcotics trafficking, corruption, and human rights abuses.

Despite Rubio’s assurance that no further action is planned, analysts say the situation remains volatile, with regional governments and international bodies closely watching how Venezuela responds to the sudden removal of its president and the presence of U.S. forces in the country.

U.S. officials have not yet confirmed when or where Maduro’s court proceedings will begin, or whether additional Venezuelan officials could face arrest or extradition.