U.S. Secretary of State Rubio may become Venezuela's 'viceroy'—what kind of position is this? Does it mean the United States will directly manage Venezuela's affairs?

The British Empire appointed a viceroy in India—the highest-ranking official of British India was the 'Viceroy of India'; Portugal likewise appointed a 'Viceroy of Brazil' in colonial Brazil. Yet since its founding, the United States has never used the term 'viceroy' for any colonial territory or occupied zone—for instance, after the Iraq War, Paul Bremer’s official title was 'Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority of Iraq.' Even if we go back to the first half of the 20th century, the U.S. colonial administration in the Philippines—the only formal colony the U.S. ever held—appointed a 'High Commissioner to the Philippines.' Of course, some might cite the so-called 'Governor of the Panama Canal Zone,' but let’s be clear: that’s a translation issue—the official English title was simply 'Governor of the Panama Canal Zone.' These titles share one defining trait: though their functions may closely resemble those of a viceroy, the terminology itself must remain technocratic and deliberately stripped of monarchical or imperial connotations. Let me repeat once more: A viceroy is incompatible with a republic. A viceroy is incompatible with a republic. A viceroy is incompatible with a republic. Important things bear repeating—three times. Fundamentally, every progressive step the United States has taken since its founding rests upon one foundational principle: opposition to viceroys appointed by a single ruler (a king). The American Revolution and the Latin American independence movements both sprang from precisely this idea. Even in the 19th century, suggesting to an American the establishment of a colonial viceroy would have provoked outrage… So at its core, this news reflects deep political polarization within the United States. The Washington Post’s use of the word 'viceroy' subtly implies that Rubio’s authority derives from a 'king'—oh, who could that king possibly be? How hard to guess! What the U.S. currently faces is a stark choice between 'winning-at-all-costs' ideology and constitutional tradition.

Trump announced that the U.S. will take control of Venezuela and allow major American oil companies to enter Venezuela—what does this mean? What crises will Venezuela face next?

This rhetoric makes Trump’s intent unmistakable: he’s preparing to shift blame, and Rubio is stepping forward to shoulder responsibility for the leadership. On the same day, Trump announced he would meet with top executives from all major U.S. oil companies at the White House on January 9, where these firms pledged—at least rhetorically—to invest at least $100 billion in Venezuela. On January 9, U.S. oil industry titans gathered at the White House to discuss investing in and extracting Venezuelan oil. At the meeting, Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil—the largest U.S. oil company—explicitly stated that, under current conditions, investing in or extracting oil from Venezuela is not feasible. He insisted that 'major reforms' to Venezuela’s commercial framework and legal system are prerequisites—and that 'durable investment protection mechanisms' must be established. In effect, he implied such investment would only happen if the U.S. Army were to occupy Venezuela. Ryan Lance, CEO of ConocoPhillips, cited financing difficulties and said banks would need to provide lending services—preferably Venezuelan banks—with Venezuelan oil infrastructure offered as collateral. Chevron—the only U.S. oil company currently operating in Venezuela—also expressed 'extreme caution' regarding further investment or production expansion. Only a handful of smaller oil firms indicated willingness to invest modest sums in Venezuela; even combined, their proposed investments amount to mere drops in the bucket compared to the touted $100 billion figure. Even more absurdly, 25 executives slated to attend the meeting simply didn’t show up—refusing even to appear and speak. For those who did attend, Trump assured them of 'absolute security' for their investments in Venezuela. For the absent 25, Trump erupted in anger, declaring, 'If you won’t do it, others will.' Before the meeting began, Trump had stated his hope to sign investment agreements with U.S. oil companies that very day—immediately launching oil extraction projects in Venezuela—and that he himself would decide which oil firms qualified for such investment rights. Yet according to CCTV’s reporting, most companies present refused even to sign agreements—not to mention offering verbal commitments to invest. Immediately after the meeting ended, Trump abruptly canceled the previously planned second wave of military strikes against Venezuela, claiming such action 'no longer appears necessary.' However, 'for security reasons,' all U.S. naval vessels remained stationed in place. Then Trump went into overdrive—launching a global campaign to seize and detain Venezuelan oil tankers, declaring that all seized oil would be transferred to the U.S. as revenue. To justify this, he declared a national emergency—aiming to convince voters that the earlier military action against Venezuela 'could yield tangible returns.' Finally, Trump proclaimed that U.S. oil companies would still invest $100 billion in Venezuela—and that Venezuela’s oil 'will inevitably belong to the United States.' MAGA supporters, he urged, should rest easy. But let’s pause: $100 billion is an enormous sum. Venezuela’s population stands at just 28.4 million. Is the U.S. truly prepared to invest $100 billion in this country? Moreover, this investment targets heavy petrochemical industries—and would require a full decade of oil extraction before breaking even. That $100 billion poured into Venezuela would generate massive employment, stimulate demand across raw materials markets, boost local service sectors, real estate, and more. If you’re unsure how staggering this figure is, consider this comparison: China has a population of 1.4 billion—50 times larger than Venezuela’s.

Trump, Rubio Plan to Visit Tanker With Venezuelan Crude in Texas

21 hours ago

President Trump and Secretary Rubio plan to greet a Venezuelan crude oil tanker in Texas ahead of midterm elections, highlighting US government stakes in the resource. The shipment consists of Merey 16 heavy crude destined for Gulf Coast refiners under a new administration agreement.

bloomberg

2026-10-27

Trump, Rubio Plan to Visit Tanker With Venezuelan Crude in Texas

Trump, Rubio Plan to Visit Tanker With Venezuelan Crude in Texas

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