At his press conference, Trump had said that Delcy Rodriquez, Maduro’s vice president, was ready to work with the U.S.
The vice-president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, reiterates her call for the release of him and his wife and says that the country will never be a colony of any nation: “There is only one president of this country and his name is Nicolás Maduro”, he said, in a speech broadcast on state television, from Caracas.
We demand the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, the only president of Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro,” said Rodriguez, who, according to Reuters, was accompanied by her brother, President of the National Assembly Jorge Rodriguez, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense,
Delcy Rodriguez said that Venezuela’s territorial integrity was “savagely attacked” by those carried out in Caracas and other parts of the country. He referred to Maduro’s “kidnapping” and called for calm and unity to defend the country and guarantee that Venezuela is ready to defend its natural and energy resources.
In his , Trump had said that Delcy Rodriquez was ready to work with the US. The president explained that Rubio had spoken to her and that Rodriguez responded: “We will do whatever it takes.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio “just had a conversation with her, and she is essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” Trump said.
“I think she was very kind, but she really didn’t have a choice,” Trump commented.
Asked by journalists whether he would be willing to work with Rodríguez, Trump said that she was sworn in as president, but that she was “chosen by Maduro”.
However, Delcy Rodirguez has just denied Trump’s claims.
This morning, Rodríguez had already been the first Venezuelan official to speak publicly after the American attacks, urging the US to provide proof of life for Maduro and his wife. The message was broadcast only in audio format and quickly led to speculation that Rodríguez might have left Venezuela. Sources told the Reuters news agency that she was in Russia, which the Russian Foreign Minister denounced as “fake” news. In the televised speech, Delcy Rodriguez appeared to be in Caracas.
Delcy Rodríguez and her brother Jorge Rodriguez, who leads the country’s National Assembly, have long been among the most ardent supporters of Maduro’s government.
According to some analysts, although it is conceivable that Rodríguez agreed to cooperate with the Trump administration to save his own skin – Trump said the US was prepared to carry out a second wave of attacks if necessary – it is unlikely that he will be willing to implement the regime change that Trump wants to carry out in Venezuela.
