U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said on January 4 local time that the United States would continue to target vessels “suspected of drug trafficking” and seize sanctioned vessels in order to pressure the Venezuelan authorities. Rubio said the U.S. is “fighting drug trafficking organizations, not Venezuela,” and that the U.S. will continue to seize sanctioned vessels until “our issues are resolved.” Rubio emphasized that the U.S. will maintain its military deployment in waters near Venezuela and continue to impose an “isolation” on the country, noting that “this allows us to exert significant influence over what happens next.” Rubio also stated that if Venezuela’s current leaders make “the right decisions,” the U.S. is prepared to cooperate with them, but “will judge them by their actions.” (CCTV News)