Secretary of State Marco Rubio touted the "tremendous leverage and control" the United States now exerts over Venezuela's oil industry and suggested Venezuela wants the oil captured in the Caribbean Wednesday by U.S. forces to be a part of its export deal with the administration.

The White House said the crew onboard the Marinera, which had been re-flagged as a Russian vessel, "will be brought to the United States for such prosecution if necessary."

The U.S. carried out operations Wednesday to seize two Venezuela-linked tankers, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. has "tremendous leverage" over the country.

Since the dramatic capture of dictator Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces, questions have swirled about who is running Venezuela and how.

It’s not going to cost us anything," Rubio said of the Trump Administration's plans to transform Venezuela and sell its oil

U.S. forces were attempting to board a Venezuela-linked oil tanker sailing under a Russian flag that had evaded a U.S. blockade, according to reports.

The secretary of state told lawmakers the administration has a three-phase plan for Venezuela after ousting its leader, including seizing oil and controlling the proceeds.

Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.), whose south Florida district includes many Cubans and Venezuelans eager for regime change in those countries, said Maria Corina Machado, the country’s exiled opposition leader and winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, hasn’t been pushed aside.