In a heated exchange during a joint press conference with the Slovak Prime Minister, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio sharply rebuked a reporter, accusing them of trying to drive a wedge between the U.S. and Slovakia over past criticisms of American actions in Venezuela.
Rubio directly addressed the reporter, stating, "One more point, as I think you asked him a question in order to like see you can get him against us with some thing about all you criticize a lot of countries didn’t like what we did in Venezuela." He dismissed the reporter's line of questioning as an attempt to provoke discord, emphasizing that differing opinions on foreign policy do not preclude partnership.
Defending the U.S. intervention in Venezuela, Rubio asserted that the actions were squarely in America's national interest. "That’s, okay, that was in our national interest," he said, adding, "I’m sure there’s something one day that we don’t like will say we don’t like you didn’t. so what that doesn’t mean we’re not going to be friends when I can we partners we’re not going to be able to cooperate with one."
Rubio highlighted that nations routinely express disagreements without severing ties. "In other countries expressed their opinion all the time. We have very close allies that didn’t like what we did in that regard," he noted, underscoring the resilience of alliances despite policy variances.
He further justified the Venezuela operation as both successful and essential, describing the targeted figure as "a narco terrorist." Rubio explained, "I can tell you what it was successful. We’re product was necessary because the guy was a narco terrorist and we made him a bunch of offers and you chose to 11 them money."
Pointing to tangible improvements, Rubio pointed to the period following the figure's removal. "Look: what’s happened in Venezuela, the six weeks since he’s been gone. It is now it’s long way to go, there’s still much work. That needs to be done, but I can tell you as well as much better off today than it was six weeks ago," he declared, framing the outcome as a positive step forward despite ongoing challenges.
The exchange occurred amid broader discussions at the joint press event, where Rubio sought to reinforce U.S.-Slovakia cooperation, brushing aside attempts to highlight international frictions over Venezuela.
