By Trump Warns New Venezuelan Leader as Maduro Faces Trial
Trump Warns New Venezuelan Leader as Maduro Faces Trial
In a significant escalation of regional tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez. In an interview with The Atlantic, Trump cautioned that the new leader could face a “very big price” if she fails to align with American interests following the dramatic removal of Nicolás Maduro.
The warning comes as deposed president Nicolás Maduro is scheduled to appear in a New York federal court today. Captured in a high-stakes U.S. special forces operation over the weekend, Maduro faces charges related to narco-terrorism and weapon offenses allegations he has consistently denied.
A New Leadership Under Pressure
Delcy Rodríguez, formerly the Vice President, was appointed interim president by Venezuela’s Supreme Court following Maduro’s extraction. While she has publicly condemned the U.S. military action as “barbaric,” her initial cabinet meeting on Sunday struck a surprisingly conciliatory tone.
Rodríguez has invited the U.S. government to collaborate on a “shared development” agenda, though she remains under heavy scrutiny from Washington. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that while the U.S. is not “at war” with the nation, it remains at war with the “narco-terrorist” organizations it believes the regime supports.
Strategic Goals: Oil and Security
The Trump administration has been transparent about its interests in the region. The President recently stated that the U.S. would oversee a transition period, suggesting that American oil companies would play a vital role in repairing Venezuela’s crumbling infrastructure to “start making money for the country.”
Key pillars of current U.S. policy include:
• The Oil Quarantine: A naval blockade designed to prevent Venezuelan oil from reaching adversaries like Russia and China.
• Direct Leverage: Using the threat of further military or economic action to ensure the new administration in Caracas “makes the right decisions.”
• Regional Security: Addressing mass migration and drug trafficking which the U.S. claims have destabilized the Western Hemisphere.
Regional Fallout and Global Reactions
The operation has sparked a firestorm of international debate. While the U.S. describes the raid as a “law enforcement operation” that did not require Congressional approval, others, including some Democratic lawmakers, have labeled it an act of war.
Neighboring Colombia has also come under fire, Cuba has declared two days of national mourning, reporting that 32 of its combatants died defending Maduro during the U.S. raid.
As Rodríguez is sworn in today in Caracas, the world watches to see if she will move toward cooperation or if the region is headed for further conflict.
