By Spy Uganda
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, has signalled a more assertive stance in her country’s fragile political transition, saying Caracas must be allowed to resolve its internal affairs without external directives, even as relations with Washington remain pivotal.
Speaking on Sunday to oil workers in the coastal city of Puerto La Cruz, Rodríguez said Venezuela had “had enough” of what she described as orders from Washington, calling for national dialogue and internal solutions to the country’s deep political divisions. Her remarks were broadcast live on state-run Venezolana de Televisión.
“Let Venezuelan politics resolve our differences and our internal conflicts,” Rodríguez said, adding that the country had paid “a very high price” from years of political extremism and confrontation.
Rodríguez, a former deputy to Nicolás Maduro, has been serving as interim leader since the former president and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured in a US-led operation earlier this month and transferred to the United States to face criminal charges. Her leadership has been backed by Washington, placing her in a delicate position as she seeks to maintain domestic stability while navigating strong US expectations.
Despite her latest pushback, Rodríguez has repeatedly insisted that she does not seek confrontation with the United States. President Donald Trump, who initially said the US would “run” Venezuela following Maduro’s removal, later endorsed Rodríguez as interim leader and has publicly praised her. Earlier this month, Trump said he had spoken with Rodríguez by phone, describing her as a “terrific person” and saying relations with Venezuela were progressing well.
The White House has maintained steady pressure on Caracas since Maduro’s capture, issuing a series of demands that include resuming oil production, releasing political prisoners and severing ties with countries such as China, Iran, Russia and Cuba. Washington has also pushed for exclusive US-Venezuela cooperation in the oil sector, according to senior US officials.
Oil remains central to Venezuela’s economic future. The country holds the world’s largest reserves of extra-heavy crude, a resource that is costly to refine but compatible with US refinery infrastructure, making energy cooperation a key strategic issue for both sides.
Internally, Venezuela remains deeply divided. Political factions include loyalists of Maduro, left-wing critics who oppose the direction taken under his leadership, and so-called “Chavistas No-Maduristas,” supporters of late leader Hugo Chávez who accuse Maduro of abandoning socialist principles. Opposition leaders are also weighing their role in the country’s future, amid uncertainty over the shape of a post-Maduro political order.
Last week, President Trump said he would like to see opposition figure María Corina Machado involved in Venezuela’s leadership in some capacity. Machado, who met Trump at the White House earlier this month, has emerged as a key figure watched closely by both domestic and international actors.
Meanwhile, signs of limited progress have emerged on human rights concerns. On Sunday, at least 104 detainees were released from Venezuelan prisons, according to the rights group Foro Penal. The organisation said the releases marked one of the largest single-day figures since the government announced plans on January 8 to free a “significant number” of political prisoners as a gesture toward peace.
Foro Penal estimates that at least 266 detainees have been released so far. Rodríguez said on Friday that a total of 626 people had been freed in recent weeks and announced plans to involve the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to verify the figures, though a full list has yet to be made public.
As Venezuela attempts to steady itself after weeks of upheaval, Rodríguez’s comments underscore the balancing act facing her interim government seeking legitimacy at home, cooperation abroad, and a path forward for a nation emerging from years of political and economic turmoil.
