Venezuelan Interim Leader Opens Up to Cooperation with the US

Delcy Rodriguez Prepares for Collaboration with the US

The interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, has announced her willingness to cooperate with the United States for the future of Venezuela, marking a significant shift in tone following a military operation that led to the abduction of leader Nicolas Maduro by American special forces.

"We consider it a priority to move towards a balanced and respectful relationship between the US and Venezuela," Rodriguez wrote on Telegram on Sunday.

Rodriguez, who has served as Maduro's deputy since 2018, was appointed interim leader by Venezuela's Supreme Court on Saturday, following the detention of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during what is being described as the riskiest American military operation since the elimination of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in 2011.

In a televised address, Rodriguez condemned the actions of the United States as "an atrocity that violates international law," insisting that "the only president of Venezuela is President Nicolas Maduro." Her statements have created a rift with Donald Trump, who, following Maduro's capture, suggested that American officials were in discussions with her and that she might be open to collaboration.

Rodriguez has characterized the Trump administration as a group of "extremists," prompting a swift change in Trump's attitude, shifting from praise to direct threats. "If she does not do what is right, she will pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro," Trump stated in an interview.

On Sunday, Rodriguez communicated that she has formed a commission to seek the release of Maduro and Flores from American custody, where Maduro faces charges of "narcoterrorist conspiracy," cocaine importation, possession of firearms, and destructive devices.

Maduro is scheduled to appear in a federal court in New York on Monday. Trump administration officials have framed this action as a law enforcement measure to hold Maduro accountable for criminal charges dating back to 2020. However, Trump indicated that other motivations underlie the raid, including the influx of Venezuelan immigrants into the US.