Il Nuovo Postiglione - Rubio to warn Venezuela leader of Maduro's fate if defiant

Delcy Rodriguez, who was vice president and now acting president, "is well aware of the fate of Maduro," Rubio was to tell the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, according to prepared testimony.

"It is our belief that her own self-interest aligns with advancing our key objectives," Rubio was to say.

"Make no mistake, as the president has stated, we are prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail," he was to say, referring to President Donald Trump.

Rubio, a former senator, agreed to testify before the committee after weeks of Democrats accusing the Trump administration of both deceiving lawmakers and exceeding its authority by using force.

US commandoes raided Caracas on January 3 and seized Maduro, a longtime leftist nemesis of Washington, and his wife, Cilia Flores.

The couple were flown to New York to stand trial on US-issued charges of drug trafficking, which they deny.

Rubio in his prepared testimony staunchly defended the operation, saying the United States "arrested two narcotraffickers" and called Maduro "an indicted drug trafficker, not a legal head of state."

"All of this was accomplished without the loss of a single American life, or an ongoing military occupation," Rubio said.

"History features few examples where so much was achieved at so little cost."

Venezuelan officials say more than 100 people died, both Venezuelans and Cubans who unsuccessfully tried to protect Maduro.

Trump has demanded that Rodriguez work to benefit US oil companies.

F.dAmico--INP