The United States has a three-step plan for Venezuela that will begin with stabilising the country after US forces seized leader Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, ensuring that US oil companies have access to the country during a recovery phase and finally overseeing a transition, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump has warned of further military operations against Venezuela if the members of Maduro’s inner circle who have stepped in to lead the country do not cooperate with his demands, which largely focus on obtaining Venezuelan oil.

The Republican president said the US would refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude, as US forces continued seizing oil tankers linked to Venezuela on Wednesday.

Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, and more Venezuelan crude in the market could exacerbate oversupply concerns and add to recent pressure on prices.

“The bottom line is that there is a process now in place where we have tremendous control and leverage over what those interim authorities are doing and are able to do,” said Rubio, who spoke alongside Secretary of War Pete Hegseth after a classified briefing to US senators on the Trump administration’s plan for the Latin American country.

“But obviously, this will be a process of transition. In the end, it will be up to the Venezuelan people to transform their country.” Rubio did not provide details on the planned transition.

Democrats say plans amount to stealing oil

Democrats expressed shock at the plans, which they said amounted to stealing oil but lacked details, and questioned why the plans could not be discussed in public hearings.

Rubio told reporters the briefing included operational details that could not be made public, but said after stopping Venezuela from “descending into chaos,” the US would begin a “recovery” phase that would mean “ensuring that American, Western and other companies have access to the Venezuelan market in a way that’s fair“.

“Also, at the same time, begin to create the process of reconciliation nationally within Venezuela, so that the opposition forces can be amnestied and released from prisons or brought back to the country, and begin to rebuild civil society,” Rubio added.

“And then the third phase, of course, will be one of transition.”

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut called it “an insane plan”.

“They are talking about stealing the Venezuelan oil at gunpoint for a period of time undefined as leverage to micromanage the country. The scope and insanity of that plan is absolutely stunning,” Murphy told reporters.