Rubio said the operation did not constitute an act of war against Venezuela, and noted that Venezuela’s current leadership is cooperating with Washington. He said the US is “making good and decent progress” with the interim administration of Ms. Delcy Rodríguez—who was sworn in as President of Venezuela following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. The Trump administration had established a “very respectful and productive line of communication” with the government of Rodríguez, he added.

According to Rubio, Washington and Caracas are discussing measures to limit the influence of other countries in Venezuela, as well as plans to reopen the US Embassy in Caracas as the US prepares to restore diplomatic relations. But he declined to rule out future strikes to protect US interests.

"I can tell you right now with full certainty, we are not postured to nor do we intend or expect to have to take any military action in Venezuela at any time," Rubio said. "I think it would require the emergence of an imminent threat of the kind that we do not anticipate at this time."

Rubio sought to persuade members of Congress to support President Donald Trump’s recent controversial priorities, in particular a shift in US foreign policy focus from Europe and the Middle East to the Western Hemisphere.