Secretary of State Marco Rubio has effectively become Venezuela’s administrator from afar, exercising extraordinary influence over the country’s finances, natural resources and day-to-day government operations, according to The New York Times.

The report says Rubio remains in frequent contact with interim President Delcy Rodríguez, whose government follows almost every instruction issued by the Trump administration. Revenue from most Venezuelan oil exports is reportedly received by the US Treasury and then gradually released to Venezuela through private banks.

The arrangement gives Washington enormous leverage over Venezuela without requiring a traditional military occupation. Rubio is reportedly directing the country’s economic restructuring, overseeing key policy decisions and ensuring that the government remains aligned with the United States.