Senator Marco Rubio offered a forceful defense of President Donald Trump’s military and strategic actions, framing them squarely within the administration’s America First doctrine and its commitment to protecting the Western Hemisphere from foreign adversaries.

Rubio made clear that U.S. involvement in Venezuela is not about acquiring oil for the United States. According to him, America already possesses abundant domestic energy resources. The real issue, he argued, is preventing hostile foreign powers from using Venezuela’s oil industry as a strategic foothold in the region. Rubio questioned why nations such as China, Russia, and Iran — none of which are located in the Western Hemisphere — would seek control over Venezuelan oil unless it served broader geopolitical ambitions that threaten regional stability.

He emphasized that the Western Hemisphere is the United States’ home region and that allowing adversarial powers to establish operational bases there would carry serious consequences. Under President Trump, Rubio said, that scenario is unacceptable. The administration’s position is that regional security begins close to home, and safeguarding the Americas is a core national interest.

Rubio also highlighted the humanitarian and economic collapse of Venezuela as a direct result of corruption under Nicolás Maduro’s regime. He pointed to the mass migration of approximately eight million Venezuelans since 2014, describing it as one of the largest displacement events in modern history. According to Rubio, this exodus occurred because the nation’s wealth was systematically diverted to benefit Maduro and his inner circle rather than the Venezuelan people.

The senator stressed that the destabilizing impact of this migration extends beyond Venezuela’s borders. Neighboring countries such as Brazil and Colombia, he explained, fear another wave of mass migration, which would further strain their economies, infrastructure, and public services. Rubio described this as a shared regional concern and one that demands decisive leadership.

Under President Trump, Rubio said, the United States will no longer tolerate foreign powers destabilizing the Americas while expecting the region — and American taxpayers — to absorb the consequences. He framed Trump’s actions as a clear message that exploitation, corruption, and external interference in the Western Hemisphere will be confronted directly.

Rubio concluded that the administration’s objective is simple and firm: ensure that Venezuela’s resources ultimately benefit its people, restore stability to the region, and prevent adversaries from turning America’s backyard into a staging ground for strategic competition. According to Rubio, this approach defines President Trump’s America First foreign policy and will continue to guide U.S. actions in the region.