Rubio Points to Free Elections as End Goal for Venezuela Amid Renewed Calls for Patience: 'That Point Has to Come'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Venezuela must ultimately hold "free and fair elections" while urging patience as the country moves through a U.S.-backed transition process following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Rubio said: "Ultimately, there will have to be a transition phase. There will have to be free and fair elections in Venezuela, and that point has to come."

Rubio described recent developments as significant, pointing to a three-phase U.S. plan consisting of stabilization, recovery, and transition. He said the first phase has largely been achieved, citing the absence of mass migration, civil unrest, or internal conflict. "We didn't want the country having a mass migration. We didn't want civil war. We didn't want upheaval in the streets. That's largely been achieved," he said.

The Secretary of State added that Venezuela is now in a recovery phase, highlighting both domestic economic improvements and benefits for the United States through oil exports. According to Rubio, Venezuelan oil shipments to U.S. refineries are generating profits that are "being deposited into bank accounts controlled by the United States Treasury," with funds intended to benefit the Venezuelan population.

He also pointed to the release of "hundreds of political prisoners" and the closure of a detention facility previously used to hold them. Despite those developments, Rubio emphasized that the current stage is not permanent. "It's not forever, but we have to be patient, but we also can't be complacent," he said, reiterating that elections remain the final objective.

Rubio's remarks came after a meeting in Washington with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who described the encounter as "excellent" and praised his "commitment to democracy, freedom, and the well-being of Venezuelans." Machado said "the day is approaching" when Venezuelan families will be reunited, signaling optimism about the country's political trajectory.

The United States recently restored diplomatic relations with Caracas and has recognized Delcy Rodríguez as interim president following Maduro's arrest. While Venezuelan authorities have taken steps aimed at economic stabilization and foreign investment, no timeline has been announced for elections.

Rubio said the administration believes progress over the past three months has exceeded expectations but maintained that a full political transition remains incomplete. "What's been achieved in Venezuela in just three months is nothing short of extraordinary," he said, while stressing that the process must culminate in a vote.