Venezuela’s acting president invited the United States on Sunday to work together on a plan for “shared development.” This was the first time the Venezuelan government had taken a friendly approach since U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro.
In a social media statement, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said her government wants to build respectful relations with the United States. She had previously called the Saturday operation an illegal takeover of the country’s resources.
“We invite the U.S. government to work with us on a cooperation plan focused on shared development under international law, which would help strengthen community relations,” Rodriguez said. “President Donald Trump, our people, and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war.”
Rodriguez, who is also the oil minister, is seen as the most practical member of Maduro’s team. Trump has suggested she is willing to collaborate with the U.S.
However, she and other officials publicly described the detentions of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, as a kidnapping and stated that Maduro is still the country’s legitimate leader.
On Sunday, Trump told reporters he could order another strike if Venezuela does not help the U.S. open its oil industry and stop drug trafficking. He also warned of potential military action in Colombia and Mexico and claimed Cuba’s communist government appears to be on the brink of collapse. The Colombian and Mexican embassies in Washington did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Maduro To Appear in U.S. Court On Monday
Rodriguez announced that Maduro will appear before a federal judge in New York on Monday. Officials from the Trump administration claim that his capture is a law enforcement effort to hold Maduro accountable for criminal charges from 2020, which say he was involved in a narco-terrorism conspiracy.
Trump has also mentioned that other reasons influenced the raid. He said it was partly due to an increase in Venezuelan immigrants coming to the U.S. and Venezuela’s decision years ago to take control of U.S. oil interests. “We’re taking back what they stole,” he said on Air Force One while returning to Washington from Florida. “We’re in charge.”
Trump added that oil companies will come back to Venezuela to rebuild the country’s oil industry. He claimed, “They’re going to spend billions of dollars, and they’re going to take the oil out of the ground.”
Venezuela – High on Oil Reserves but Low on Production
Global oil prices rose slightly as investors considered what U.S. military action in Venezuela might mean, and stock markets went up in Asia.
Maduro, 63, faces charges that accuse him of helping major drug trafficking groups like the Sinaloa Cartel and the Tren de Aragua gang. Prosecutors say he ran cocaine trafficking routes, used the military to guard shipments, protected violent trafficking groups, and used government property to move drugs. Originally filed in 2020, the charges were updated on Saturday to include his wife, Cilia Flores, who was also captured by U.S. forces and is accused of ordering kidnappings and murders.
Maduro denies any wrongdoing, and it may take months before he goes to trial.
Raid Draws Criticism and Questions About Legality
The United States has called Nicolás Maduro an illegitimate dictator since he claimed victory in the 2018 election, which had many allegations of fraud. Former President Trump has said that opposition leader María Corina Machado cannot take over because she does not have enough support.
Machado is banned from the 2024 election but believes her ally, Edmundo González, has the right to be president. Some international observers say González won that election overwhelmingly.
Most countries do not support Maduro, but many have questioned the legality of taking a foreign leader by force. They want the U.S. to follow international law. The U.N. Security Council plans to meet on Monday to discuss the U.S. attack. Secretary-General António Guterres called this action a dangerous precedent.
China has also criticized the U.S, saying it violates international law. They demand the release of Maduro and his wife.
This attack has raised concerns in the U.S. Some opposition Democrats say the administration misled them about its policy on Venezuela. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to brief lawmakers in Washington later on Monday.
Venezuela, once a wealthy country in Latin America, has seen its economy collapse over the last 20 years. This crisis has caused many Venezuelans to leave, with one in five moving abroad. Removing Maduro, who has led Venezuela for over 12 years after Hugo Chávez’s death, could make the situation in the country of 28 million people even worse.
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