Washington, Jan. 4 -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday (local time) took a U-turn on Trump's remark to "run" Venezuela following their military operation in its capital, noting that the President had "always retained optionality."

Rubio, when asked, in an interview with CBS News's Face the Nation, to clarify if there was currently a US occupation in the South American country, said, "The president always retains optionality on anything and on all these matters. He certainly has the ability and the right under the Constitution of the United States to act against imminent and urgent threats against the country."

He added that current measures, including an oil quarantine and large naval deployments, are aimed at pressuring the ...