Delcy Rodríguez Strikes a Cooperative Stance With the United States Following Donald Trump's Threat

The nation's interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, has offered to work with the US government, marking a shift from the confrontational posture she first adopted after the apprehension of ousted leader Nicolás Maduro.

An Announcement of Cooperation

In a statement released late Sunday, Rodríguez declared she had "invited the US government to cooperate on an framework of joint work."

Her comments followed just a short time after ex-President Donald Trump threatened that Rodríguez could "face severe consequences, potentially more severe than Maduro" if she did not bend to his demands.

Transition of Power in the Country

Rodríguez has effectively been running Venezuela since Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained over the weekend. The pair were taken to New York and are due to appear at a federal court in Manhattan.

She was formally inaugurated as president by the constitutional tribunal on Saturday. The following day, the country's armed forces pledged to acknowledge her authority, while simultaneously calling for the prompt liberation of Maduro and his wife.

Trump's Comments and Approach

Following the shocking capture of Maduro, Trump stated that the United States would now "manage" Venezuela "until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition." He also mentioned that contact had been made with Rodríguez.

On Sunday, he warned that the US might launch a further action if holdouts of the government do not cooperate with his plans to get the country "back on track."

Trump's actions have entirely sidelined the nation's political opposition, headed by Nobel laureate María Corina Machado. This strategy has been broadly condemned by observers who contend that the regime's power structure remains largely intact – simply without Maduro at its head.

The Leader's Shifting Posture

In her first public appearance after Maduro's capture, Rodríguez first adopted a stance of resistance, declaring that Venezuela would "never again be any other nation's colony."

However, on Sunday night, after presiding over a government meeting, she adopted a significantly more conciliatory tone. Rodríguez issued a communication stating she considered a "balanced and respectful relationship" with the United States to be a priority.

"We extend an invitation the United States government to collaborate on an cooperative agenda, aimed at mutual progress, within the confines of international law, and that strengthens lasting peaceful coexistence," she added.

A Direct Address to Trump

Addressing the former US president directly, she said: "President Donald Trump: our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war. That has consistently been President Nicolás Maduro’s conviction and it is that of all Venezuela at this moment."

"This nation I have faith in and to which I have dedicated my life. My aspiration is for Venezuela to become a great power where all patriotic Venezuelans can unite. Venezuela has the inherent right to sovereignty, development, peace, and a prosperous future," she added.

Contrasting Signals

Alongside the cooperative language, the Venezuelan government – and Rodríguez herself, via her social media channel – later honored 32 "Cuban combatants" who were part of Maduro’s personal security and who died "due to the criminal and infamous attack carried out by the US government."

Previously that day, the defense chief, Gen Vladímir Padrino López, had stated that US troops had "cold-bloodedly assassinated much of [Maduro’s] protection team, soldiers and innocent civilians," without offering specific details or a confirmed count.