Washington, DC [US], January 29 (ANI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly defended President Donald Trump's military operation that led to the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, telling lawmakers that the move removed a major national security threat in the Western Hemisphere.

On Wednesday, Rubio made the remarks during a public hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the first since the January 3 operation that ousted Maduro.

The session saw sharp divisions between Republican and Democratic members over the administration's foreign policy, including Trump's rhetoric on Greenland and broader positions on Nato, Iran and China.

Addressing lawmakers, Rubio said the United States is now safer following the operation and added that Washington plans to work with interim authorities to stabilise Venezuela.

'We're not going to have this thing turn around overnight, but I think we're making good and decent progress,' Rubio said.

He added, 'We are certainly better off today in Venezuela than we were four weeks ago, and I think and hope and expect that we'll be better off in three months and six months and nine months than we would have been had Maduro still been there.'

Rubio said Venezuela's current leadership is cooperating with Washington and is expected to see improvements soon.

He also clarified earlier remarks suggesting possible further military action, stressing that the administration does not anticipate using force.

'I can tell you right now with full certainty, we are not postured to nor do we intend or expect to have to take any military action in Venezuela at any time,' Rubio said.

He added that such steps would only be considered in the case of 'the emergence of an imminent threat of the kind that we do not anticipate at this time.'

Rubio also announced that Venezuela would soon be allowed to sell oil currently restricted under US sanctions.

He said proceeds from the sales would be earmarked for basic government services, including policing and health care, with funds placed in a US Treasury-controlled account and released only after Washington approves Venezuela's monthly budget submissions. (ANI)