Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday said her government was “not afraid” of a diplomatic confrontation with the United States, even and called on Washington to show “respect for the dignity” of her predecessor Nicolas Maduro, who was ousted in a US military strike.“We have asked of the government of the United States… respect for the dignity of president Nicolas Maduro and respect for the dignity and integrity of the first lady” Cilia Flores, who is also in custody, Rodriguez said in an address to parliament, as quoted by AFP.Maduro and Flores were taken by US forces to New York to face drug trafficking charges, after the vice president Rodriquez was recognised as interim leader provided her government stays with Washington, particularly on access to Venezuela’s vast oil resources.Rodriguez also said her government was “not afraid” of a diplomatic confrontation with the United States. “We know they are very powerful, we know they are a lethal nuclear power… We are not afraid to confront them diplomatically, through political dialogue,” she said. Rodriguez, a Maduro ally, is considered someone US President Donald Trump is willing to work with, provided she aligns with Washington’s directives.Rodriguez had spoken by telephone on Wednesday with US President Donald Trump, who described her as “a terrific person.”Trump said on social media that he and Rodriguez had discussed “many topics,” including oil, minerals, trade and national security. “We are making tremendous progress,” he added.In a separate development with regards to oil, Rodriguez, during her parliament address, announced plans to reform the country’s oil legislation as she seeks to recalibrate relations with Washington.Without offering specifics, Rodriguez told parliament that the reforms would address Venezuela’s anti-blockade law, which gives the government tools to counteract US sanctions imposed since 2019.Since Maduro’s capture, President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States now controls Venezuela and its oil sector, demanding what he describes as unfettered access.Rodriguez has been navigating a diplomatic tightrope, trying to meet Trump’s demands without alienating Maduro loyalists who control Venezuela’s security forces and feared paramilitaries.She described her call with the US leader as “productive and courteous” and characterised by “mutual respect.”On Thursday, Rodriguez said that if she must ever visit Washington as interim president, “I will go standing, walking, not dragged.”While Trump has so far cold‑shouldered Venezuela’s opposition, which is widely considered to have won the July 2024 presidential elections, on Thursday he met opposition leader Maria Corina Machado for what the White House called “positive” talks.
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