Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed leadership of Venezuela after the removal of Nicolas Maduro, now confronts a major test in navigating deeply fraught ties with the United States.
US President Donald Trump has asked Rodriguez to take several pro-America actions that her predecessor refused if she wants to avoid a similar fate, Politico reported citing a US official.
According to the report, US officials have told Rodriguez that they want to see at least three moves from her:
What are the 3 demands?
According to the report, American officials have told Rodriguez, who is also the country’s Oil Minister and a staunch Maduro ally, that they want to see her take strong action on cracking down on drug flows, kicking out Iranian, Cuban and other operatives of countries or networks hostile to Washington. They also want her to stop the sale of oil to US adversaries.
What has Rodriguez said about the US?
In her messages on social media, Rodriguez directly appealed to US President Donald Trump, saying that the people of Venezuela and the region “deserve peace and dialogue, not war.” She said this is in line with the long‑time position of Venezuela’s leadership, underscoring her desire to move past conflict with the US.
Maduro’s son extends support to Rodriguez
Maduro’s son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, said he would “unconditionally support” Delcy Rodriguez during his recent appearance at the Venezuelan National Assembly.
Nicolas Maduro Guerra’s comments mark his first public backing of Rodriguez, whom President Donald Trump has said would work with Washington to “make Venezuela great again.”
“To you, Delcy, my unconditional support. Count on me and my family,” Bloomberg reported Maduro Guerra as saying, after tearfully describing what he called difficult hours for his family.
After initially describing Maduro’s capture by US forces as “barbaric,” Rodriguez struck a more conciliatory tone late on Sunday, asking the US to work with her country on a cooperation agenda.
Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who were produced before a federal court in New York on Monday, have pleaded ‘not guilty’ to drug trafficking and other federal charges. They will next appear before the court on March 17.