US secretary of state Marco Rubio has asked the interim government of Venezuela to expel official advisers from China, Russia, Cuba and Iran, The New York Times reported, citing US officials.According to the report, Rubio listed the Trump administration’s demands to Venezuela’s new leader Delcy Rodríguez, in a classified meeting on Monday.
Meanwhile, ABC news reported that Venezuela will not be allowed pump more oil, if it does not ‘kick out’ and ‘severe’ economic ties with these countries Spies and military personnel from Cuba, Russia and Iran would be forced out, while some diplomats would be permitted to stay in Venezuela, US officials told NYT on condition of anonymity.This comes after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured in Caracas and flown out of the country on Saturday in a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and US law enforcement.Minutes after US soldiers captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flew them out of the country to an American warship, Rubio called Delcy Rodriguez, two US officials added. However, it is not clear if he laid out the administration’s demands in that first call or during subsequent talks. Meanwhile, during the Monday meeting, Rubio did not offer any substantive comments on a timetable to hold elections or restore democracy to Venezuela. Rodriguez has tried to defend her country’s sovereignty in the face of the seizing of Maduro, while also striking a conciliatory tone. In her new role, she must maintain a precarious balance — protecting her political future without antagonizing the United States, given the US naval armada that remains off the coast and Trump’s direct threats against her.Rubio told lawmakers that the administration did not want to see animosity toward the United States from the interim leadership, the officials said.