Venezuela and the U.S. can jointly develop, focusing on international law, stated Delcy Rodriguez, who became the interim president of Venezuela after U.S. military forces took Nicolas Maduro out of the country, writes DW.
Caracas remains committed to peaceful coexistence with its neighbors, striving to live without external threats and in an atmosphere of respect and international cooperation, stated Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez. In an open letter posted on her Instagram page on Sunday, January 4, the politician called on the U.S. government for cooperation.
According to Rodriguez, Caracas pays "primary attention to the development of balanced and respectful international relations between the United States and Venezuela," as well as with other countries in the region. "We invite the U.S. government to cooperate within a program focused on joint development under international law, to strengthen solid coexistence in society," Rodriguez wrote.
The politician also addressed U.S. President Donald Trump directly. She pointed out that the two peoples and the region "deserve peace and dialogue, not war." According to Rodriguez, this was the message from Nicolas Maduro, who was previously captured and taken out of the country during a military operation along with his wife to the United States.
Trump Threatens Rodriguez with Consequences if She Does Not "Cooperate"
Earlier that same day, Donald Trump stated that Delcy Rodriguez would pay a "high price" if she did not cooperate with U.S. authorities. "Probably a higher one than Maduro," the U.S. president was quoted by The Atlantic.
Prior to this, at a press conference regarding the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his spouse, Trump announced that his administration would take over the interim management of Venezuela. According to Bloomberg, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to play a key role in this. Trump stated that the U.S. interim administration in the country would operate until a "proper" transition of power.
Rodriguez, for her part, was appointed interim president of Venezuela by a court decision in the country due to force majeure circumstances. She emphasized that the legitimate president of Venezuela remains Nicolas Maduro. The media notes that he has not been removed from office.
Rubio: The U.S. Will Only Continue the "Quarantine" of Venezuela, Regime Change Is Not Planned
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later attempted to soften Trump's statements about the "management" of Venezuela, writes the Associated Press. He stated that there is no talk of trying to control internal processes in the country. According to Rubio, the U.S. will only continue to support the "oil quarantine" previously imposed by Trump on Venezuela, and this alone should serve as leverage to promote political changes in the country.
"It is this kind of control that the president (Trump) is referring to when he talks about this," emphasized the Secretary of State on CBS's "Face the Nation" program. "We will continue this quarantine, and we expect changes not only in that the oil industry will be managed for the benefit of the people but also in that they (the Venezuelan authorities) will stop drug shipments."
The U.S. president announced the "oil quarantine" as leverage against Caracas in mid-December. Washington expects that without revenue from oil exports, Caracas will face an economic catastrophe within a few weeks.
