Marco Rubio, as US Secretary of State under Trump, has wielded extraordinary influence over Venezuela's finances and oil resources six months after the government changed hands. This arrangement gives the US unusual leverage over key Venezuelan decisions — far beyond typical diplomatic channels. Critics argue this degree of influence by one foreign official over another nation's critical resources and spending sets a precedent that substantially constrains Venezuelan sovereignty, though Venezuela's institutions retain formal operational independence. The extent of this influence is notably unusual in modern international relations, though it stops short of total US control over all Venezuelan government functions.