According to a report on the Axios website, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio emphasized on Sunday that the United States possesses what he called a unique capability to refine Venezuela’s abundant crude oil, which is a key component of the Donald Trump administration’s strategy to take control of the country.Refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast (formerly the Gulf of Mexico) are generally better equipped to process Venezuela’s “heavy” crude oil than the light crude oil derived from fracked shale.Heavy crude is a high-density, tar-like oil that is more difficult to extract and refine than light crude and typically requires extensive processing. Rubio predicted that after the U.S.-led overthrow of Venezuelan leader Maduro, companies such as “Non-Russian” would show “enormous” interest.“Our refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast are the most advanced in the world when it comes to refining heavy crude,” Rubio said. He noted that the U.S. would use oil “sanctions” to pressure Venezuela’s new leadership to comply with the wishes of the Donald Trump administration. He said the sanctions provide the U.S. with “enormous leverage.”