U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Venezuela’s new leader, Delcy Rodríguez, telling that she could “pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro” if she “doesn’t do what’s right.”
The warning follows the recent deposition of the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, who is set to appear in a New York federal court on Monday to face charges of drug trafficking and weapons offenses. The U.S. has accused Maduro of running a “narco-terrorist” regime, a claim he has long denied.
Rodríguez, who served as Maduro’s vice president before taking power, struck a notably conciliatory tone during her first cabinet meeting on Sunday. She extended an offer of cooperation to the United States, stating, “We invite the U.S. government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented toward shared development within the framework of international law.”
The juxtaposition of Trump’s warning and Rodríguez’s diplomatic overture highlights the fragile and confrontational dynamic shaping U.S.-Venezuela relations.
While Rodríguez appears to be opening a door to dialogue, Trump’s comments intends that Washington’s pressure campaign which has included severe sanctions, criminal indictments, and recognition of opposition figures will remain in place.
