State Department warns US citizens to leave Venezuela

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated her strong opposition to the American operation to capture the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife carried out this past weekend.

Sheinbaum was asked about Mexican political commentators suggesting the result of the operation was positive because it was limited and there was no full invasion of Venezuela.

“What door does this open? That we would be okay with someone coming into Mexico to take whoever they want? Of course not. Here we have a constitution. Here we have laws. Laws are a social covenant that guarantees democracy,” Sheinbaum told reporters during her daily briefing.

“I believe that every country has the sovereignty to decide what to do with its natural resources; I do not believe that one nation should decide for another, no matter how problematic the situation may be,” Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum was asked about the Trump administration’s demand that Venezuela sever economic ties with several countries including Cuba, Russia, and Iran.

“Every country is sovereign, and sovereignty includes control over its natural resources, regardless of another country’s viewpoint” Sheinbaum said.

-ABC News' Anne Laurent

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.

"We are in the midst right now, and in fact, about to execute on a deal to take all the oil they have -- oil that is stuck in Venezuela," he told reporters following a classified meeting with senators on the Hill.

Rubio pointed to the tanker that was captured and said Venezuela's interim leaders are cooperating because they want to make money off of it.

"They understand that the only way they can move oil and generate revenue and not have economic collapse is if they cooperate and work with the United States, and that's what we see are going to happen," he added.

Rubio and Defense Secretary Hegseth were asked about the cost of the operation.

Hegseth said the question on costs was "disingenuous" because it "undermines the success of one of the most historic military missions the world has ever seen."

He also told reporters that the U.S. military is prepared to continue seizing oil tankers.

Rubio dismissed criticism from lawmakers who accuse the administration of having no plan.

"The bottom line is, we've gone into great detail with them about the planning. We've described it to them," he said of senators on the Hill. "In fact, it's not just winging it. It's not just saying or speculating it's going to happen. It's already happening."

-ABC News' Mariam Khan

Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is demanding that the U.S. "ensure humane and dignified treatment” of Russian citizens on board the Marinera oil tanker after its seizure, according to TASS, the Russian news agency.

The ministry also said there should be no obstruction of the return of Russian citizens to their homeland and said it is closely monitoring the situation, according to TASS.

"Taking into account the information received about the presence of Russian citizens among the crew, we demand that the American side ensure humane and dignified treatment of them and strictly observe their rights and interests," the ministry said, according to TASS.

-ABC News' Anna Bergeava

Mexico continues to send oil shipments to Cuba but has not increased the amount of oil going to the island nation, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday.

"No more oil is being sent than what has historically been sent. There isn't any special shipment. For many years, oil has been sent to Cuba for different reasons—some are contracts, others are humanitarian aid," Sheinbaum said at a press conference Wednesday, according to Reuters.

-ABC News' Anne Laurent