By Blessing Nweke
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Venezuela’s incoming leader, Delcy Rodríguez, saying she could face consequences “even bigger than Maduro” if she fails to cooperate with Washington, as deposed President Nicolás Maduro prepared to appear in a New York court on Monday.
In an interview with The Atlantic, Trump said Rodríguez — who served as Maduro’s vice president and is set to be sworn in as president with the backing of Venezuela’s Supreme Court and military — must “do what’s right” or risk severe repercussions from the United States. “Regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now,” Trump said, adding that conditions in Venezuela “can’t get any worse.”
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured in a dramatic U.S. operation over the weekend and flown to the United States, where he faces charges including drug trafficking and weapons offenses. U.S. authorities accuse Maduro of running a “narco-terrorist” regime, allegations he has long denied. He is expected to appear in court in New York later Monday.
Rodríguez struck a more conciliatory tone during her first cabinet meeting on Sunday, calling for cooperation with Washington on “shared development within the framework of international law.” Despite her swearing-in, Maduro’s allies remain influential within the state apparatus.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the operation, describing it as a law enforcement action rather than an act of war, and insisted the United States is targeting drug trafficking organizations, not Venezuela itself. He said Washington retains “multiple levers of leverage,” including restrictions on Venezuela’s oil sector.
The operation has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who argue it amounted to an unauthorized act of war. Several Latin American governments, including Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, warned the action sets a dangerous precedent and threatens regional stability
Original article
Comments