Trump Threatens Venezuela’s New Leader Rodríguez, Pledges US Leverage After Maduro’s Capture

Trump Threatens Venezuela’s New Leader Rodríguez, Pledges US Leverage After Maduro’s Capture

US President Donald Trump has warned Venezuela’s incoming leader Delcy Rodríguez that she could “pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro” if she fails to act in the interests of the United States. His remarks came as former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to appear in a New York court on charges of drug trafficking and weapons offences.

The United States has accused Maduro of running a “narco-terrorist” regime, claims he denies. Rodríguez, who served as Maduro’s vice president, adopted a conciliatory tone at her first cabinet meeting on Sunday, pledging cooperation with the US.

“We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of co-operation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law,” Rodríguez said. She is backed by Venezuela’s Supreme Court and military, and will be sworn in as president on Monday in Caracas (08:00 local time / 12:00 GMT).

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted the US is not at war with Venezuela, despite air strikes in Caracas on Saturday that led to Maduro and his wife being captured and transported to the US. Some Democratic lawmakers, however, labelled the operation an “act of war.”

In an interview with The Atlantic, Trump said of Rodríguez: “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro. Regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. Can’t get any worse.”

Trump added that the US would oversee the country until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could occur, promising that US oil companies would move in to rebuild Venezuela’s infrastructure and generate revenue.

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Despite Trump’s claims, Maduro’s allies remain influential in the country. Cuba announced that 32 Cuban combatants were killed during the US operation and declared two days of national mourning.

Rubio defended the US military action, stressing it targeted drug trafficking organisations, not Venezuela itself. He also warned that the US retains multiple levers of leverage, including the oil blockade, to ensure its interests are protected.

Trump also threatened Venezuela’s neighbor Colombia, calling President Gustavo Petro a “sick man” allegedly involved in drug trafficking and not ruling out possible military action.

Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013, denies involvement in cartels and has accused the US of exploiting its “war on drugs” as a pretext for seizing Venezuela’s oil. The former president and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured in a dramatic special forces operation, which included strikes on military bases. They have been charged in the US and will appear in a New York court.

Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, questioned the legality of the operation, calling it a military action conducted without Congressional approval.

In response, several Latin American and European governments, including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, and Spain, condemned the US’s actions, saying they set a dangerous precedent for regional peace and security and endanger civilians.

The situation underscores escalating tensions in Venezuela following the unprecedented US operation, while raising questions about international law, regime change, and the limits of US authority abroad.

Trump Threatens Venezuela’s New Leader Rodríguez, Pledges US Leverage After Maduro’s Capture

BBC