Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has publicly expressed her frustration with US directives, urging the American government to cease its interference in her country’s affairs. This statement marks the first public challenge to the White House since the US operation that led to the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro earlier this month.
Rodriguez assumed leadership following the US action on January 3, after which US President Donald Trump initially stated that Washington would “run” Venezuela. However, Trump later expressed support for Rodriguez during the interim period. Addressing a group of oil workers in Puerto La Cruz, Rodriguez emphasized that Venezuela has had enough of orders from Washington regarding its politicians. She stressed the need for Venezuelans to resolve their internal conflicts without external influence, highlighting the high price the country has paid for confronting fascism and extremism.
Since taking office, Rodriguez has declared that no foreign entity will control Venezuela or turn it into a colony. Despite this, she has moved to align with some US demands, including opening Venezuela’s oil sector to American companies and cooperating on security matters. CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Caracas to meet with Rodriguez, reportedly to convey Trump’s terms for improving bilateral relations, which included changes to domestic and foreign policies.
The US operation in Venezuela has been met with international condemnation, including criticism from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who denounced it as a “flagrant violation of international law.” The Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, described the US actions as “international banditry” driven by a desire to gain control over natural resources.
Recently, Trump praised Rodriguez as a “terrific person” following their phone call, highlighting the progress made after fulfilling US demands and promising a “spectacular” partnership on oil and national security. The White House has announced plans to invite Rodriguez to Washington, and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that sanctions relief could be forthcoming. The situation in Venezuela continues to unfold, with the international community watching the developments between Caracas and Washington closely.
