US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that NATO needs a redesign, clarifying that it is not about changing the Alliance's mission, but about adapting its capacities and means to new challenges.
In another statement, Rubio said that the United States is "at a good point" regarding the Greenland issue, adding that a process is underway that, according to him, "will lead to a good outcome for everyone."
Asked about the State Department's estimates of the number of deaths during the protests in Iran, Rubio said it was "probably in the thousands." He added that while the protests currently appear to have subsided, they are expected to erupt again in the future.
Speaking about Venezuela, Rubio said the US is "much further ahead than expected" on its plan for the country. He said Washington has made numerous efforts to convince President Nicolás Maduro to voluntarily step down, but stressed that "he is not a person with whom you can reach an agreement."
During testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said the United States is already in “very good and productive” communication with Venezuela’s transitional leaders, following the military operation to arrest Maduro earlier this month. He also expressed the expectation that a U.S. diplomatic mission in Venezuela will soon open.
Rubio said that of the $500 million in oil revenue, about $200 million remains in an account, while $300 million has gone to the Venezuelan government. He stressed that the US is not spending any funds in Venezuela, other than the costs of opening the embassy, and that some OFAC clearances will be needed to help stabilize the country's economy.
