Delcy Rodríguez Adopts a Conciliatory Tone With the US Following Trump's Warning

The nation's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, has offered to work with the US government, marking a shift from the defiant 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 "extended an invitation to the American administration to work together on an agenda of cooperation."

Her remarks followed just a short time after ex-President Donald Trump warned that Maduro's former vice-president could "face severe consequences, probably more severe than Maduro" if she failed to comply with his demands.

Leadership Shift in the Country

Rodríguez has assumed de facto control of Venezuela since Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured over the weekend. The couple were transported to New York and are scheduled for an appearance at a U.S. court in Manhattan.

She was sworn in as president by the supreme court on Saturday. The next day, the military leadership pledged to acknowledge her leadership, while still demanding the immediate release of Maduro and his wife.

Trump's Comments and Strategy

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

On Sunday, he cautioned that the US might launch a further action if holdouts of the government do not cooperate with his efforts to get the country "fixed."

Trump's actions have effectively marginalized the nation's political opposition, headed by Nobel prizewinner María Corina Machado. This strategy has been widely criticised by analysts who argue that the existing power framework remains mostly unchanged – simply without Maduro at its helm.

Rodríguez's Evolving Position

In her first public appearance after Maduro's detention, Rodríguez initially struck a defiant tone, proclaiming that Venezuela would "never again be anyone's colony."

However, on Sunday night, after chairing her first cabinet meeting, she adopted a significantly more cooperative stance. Rodríguez released a message stating she considered a "stable and mutual relationship" with the United States to be a priority.

"We invite the United States government to collaborate on an cooperative agenda, focused on mutual progress, within the confines of global norms, and that promotes enduring peace," she stated.

A Direct Appeal to Trump

Addressing the former US president directly, she wrote: "Mr. Trump: our nations and our region are entitled to peace and dialogue, not war. That has consistently been President Nicolás Maduro’s belief and it is that of all Venezuela at this moment."

"This nation I have faith in and to which I have devoted myself. My dream is for Venezuela to become a great power where all decent Venezuelans can unite. Venezuela has the right to sovereignty, development, peace, and a prosperous future," she added.

Contradictory Signals

Alongside the cooperative language, the administration – and Rodríguez herself, via her official channel – later honored several dozen "Cuban security personnel" who were part of Maduro’s personal security and who perished "due to the unlawful and reprehensible attack carried out by the United States."

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 providing names or a death toll.