Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez on Sunday extended an olive branch to Washington, calling for cooperation on “shared development” following the dramatic U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro. The statement marked a striking shift in tone after Caracas initially denounced the American raid as an illegal assault on national sovereignty.
Call for Cooperation and Stability
In a message posted on social media, Rodriguez said her administration was committed to “respectful relations” with the United States. “We invite the U.S. government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence,” she wrote. “President Donald Trump, our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war.”
Rodriguez, who also serves as Venezuela’s oil minister, is seen by many diplomats as the most pragmatic member of Maduro’s former inner circle. Her appeal for dialogue comes as Venezuela faces political turmoil and widespread uncertainty following the U.S. military operation in Caracas on Saturday.
Trump Threatens Further Action
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he could order further strikes if Venezuela refused to cooperate with Washington’s push to open its oil industry and curb drug trafficking. His comments came ahead of Maduro’s scheduled court appearance in New York on Monday, where he will face charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy.
Trump has framed the operation as a law-enforcement action designed to hold Maduro accountable for his alleged crimes. However, he also linked the raid to broader U.S. concerns, including rising Venezuelan migration and the country’s decades-old decision to nationalise American oil assets.
“We’re taking back what they stole,” Trump said aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington from Florida. “We’re in charge.” He added that U.S. oil companies would soon return to Venezuela to rebuild the country’s petroleum industry. “They’re going to spend billions of dollars and they’re going to take the oil out of the ground,” he said.
Maduro Faces Expanding Criminal Case
Maduro, 63, was detained during the U.S. raid and is now in custody in New York. Prosecutors accuse him of providing protection and logistical support to major drug trafficking networks, including Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. The charges, originally filed in 2020, were updated over the weekend to include his wife, Cilia Flores, who was also captured during the operation.
According to prosecutors, Maduro directed cocaine trafficking routes, used military units to secure shipments, and allowed presidential facilities to be used for drug operations. Flores faces accusations of ordering kidnappings and murders linked to the narcotics trade.
Maduro has denied all allegations, and it may take several months before his trial begins. Meanwhile, Rodriguez’s call for renewed dialogue suggests Caracas may be seeking a path to stabilise relations amid growing global tension over the legality and fallout of the U.S. action.
with inputs from Reuters
