Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez said Sunday she has had “enough” of Washington’s orders, as she works to unite the country after the US capture of its former leader Nicolás Maduro.
Rodríguez has been walking a tight-rope since being backed by the US to lead the country in the interim; balancing keeping Maduro loyalists on board at home while trying to ensure the White House is happy.
Now, almost a month into her new role, Rodríguez has pushed back on the US, amid ongoing pressure including a series of demands for Venezuela to resume oil production.
“Enough already of Washington’s orders over politicians in Venezuela,” she told a group of oil workers in Puerto La Cruz city, at an event broadcast by state-run channel Venezolana de Televisión.
“Let Venezuelan politics resolve our differences and our internal conflicts. This Republic has paid a very high price for having to confront the consequences of fascism and extremism in our country.”
The White House has maintained steady pressure on Venezuela since Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized in a raid in early January and taken to the US, where the former leader is facing charges.
Rodríguez, Maduro’s former deputy, has insisted in recent weeks that the US does not govern Venezuela but, equally, has not sought confrontation with Washington.
On Monday, she said at a public event that Venezuela does not fear the US but stopped short of antagonizing the country.
“We are not afraid. Nor are we afraid of maintaining respectful relations with the United States, but they must be based on respect – respect for international law, basic human respect in interpersonal relations, and respect for the dignity and history of Venezuela,” she said.
US President Donald Trump had claimed the US was “going to run” Venezuela in the immediate aftermath of Maduro’s capture, but he later backed Rodríguez as the country’s interim leader. Earlier this month, Trump said he had spoken by phone with the acting Venezuelan leader and praised her as a “terrific person.” “I think we’re getting along very well with Venezuela,” he added.
CNN has contacted the White House for comment on Rodríguez’s latest statement.
Seeking stability
For the past 25 years, oil-rich socialist Venezuela has been in constant confrontation with the US. But after deposing Maduro, Washington is now seeking to secure a stable source of authority in Caracas.
Internally, there are divisions among Maduro loyalists, left-wing fractures who have opposed the direction of the government and “Chavistas No-Maduristas” – supporters of the late Hugo Chávez who reject Maduro, accusing him of betraying 21st-century socialist ideals.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Venezuelan opposition continue to watch how things unfold in the country and their future involvement remains unclear. Last week, Trump said that he would like to see Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado “involved” in the country’s leadership in some capacity. Machado had lunch with Trump at the White House earlier this month, where she presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize.
Days after the US strikes on Caracas in early January, the Trump administration outlined a number of demands that Venezuela must agree to, including cutting ties with China, Iran, Russia and Cuba, and agreeing to partner exclusively with the US on oil production, two senior White House officials told CNN at the time.
Rodríguez was also expected to prioritize the Trump administration and US oil companies for future oil sales.
Venezuela’s main economic driver is oil. The country has the world’s largest reserves of extra-heavy crude, a variety that requires a more complex and expensive refining process but which is also compatible with US refineries.
Prisoners released
The US has also demanded that Venezuela release the many political prisoners it has locked up across the country.
On Sunday, at least 104 people were freed, according to the rights group Foro Penal. The group said it marked one of the highest daily figures since the government announced on January 8 that it would release “a significant number” of detainees as a “peace” gesture to the US.
According to Foro Penal, the total number of releases since then has reached at least 266.
CNN has reached out to the Venezuelan government for more information.
Trump on Monday thanked the leadership of Venezuela for agreeing to free prisoners, which he called a “powerful humanitarian gesture.” He said the rate of releases would be increasing “over the coming short period of time.”
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said Monday that 808 people had been released since December, as part of a process that he said had been ordered by Maduro “for coexistence and peace.” Cabello and Rodríguez have both said that country is open to a visit by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to verify the list of releases, which has not been made public despite demands from activists and opposition members.
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