"State Secretary Marco Rubio confirmed on Wednesday that the United States is in talks with the state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) to secure 30-50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil. "We are in the midst right now and in fact, about to execute on a deal to take all the oil," Rubio stated. "We are going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil. We're going to sell it in the marketplace at market rates, not at the discounts Venezuela was getting." He added that the US will retain control over how the revenue is spent, claiming the funds will be directed to 'benefit the Venezuelan people.' Rubio also stressed that this would offer Washington 'leverage to move on the stabilisation front.' "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. But obviously, this will be a process of transition. In the end, it will be up to the Venezuelan people to transform their country," he said. Following the US's operation in Venezuela and capture of President Nicolas Maduro, Rubio noted that Washington's 'second phase' will focus on the country's recovery. "That is 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," the secretary said. The US launched strikes on Venezuela at the weekend, grabbing president Nicolas Maduro. Trump vowed to 'run' the country and send in the oil companies, warning the interim government they could suffer a fate 'worse than Maduro' if they didn't comply. It saw widespread condemnation across BRICS, the Global South and beyond."