The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, surprised everyone this Wednesday by making a series of statements that signify a significant shift in the traditional chavista discourse regarding the United States.
In the midst of an unprecedented institutional crisis, following the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by U.S. forces, Rodríguez chose an unusually conciliatory tone regarding trade and energy, although he criticized the military intervention.
One of the most striking aspects of his statements was the open defense of trade relations with the United States, right after a military operation that left "a stain on our relations that has never occurred in our history."
According to Rodríguez, this economic link not only persists but is vital for the country
“It is neither extraordinary nor unusual for both countries to maintain agreements in economic matters,” he pointed out.
Additionally, it revealed that "71 percent of Venezuelan exports are concentrated in eight countries, and of that 71 percent, 27 percent is destined for the United States."
At a time when Washington is imposing drastic conditions, such as the severance of relations with China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba, the interim president chose to defend Venezuelan sovereignty, albeit without closing the door to the agreements demanded by the Trump administration.
“Venezuela is open to energy relations where all parties benefit, where economic cooperation is clearly defined in commercial contracts, that is our position”, he explained, in a statement that has been interpreted as a clear signal of willingness to negotiate.
Rodríguez went further:
“The economic relationships of Venezuela are diversified across various markets around the world, just as our geopolitical relationships are diversified. And that is how it should be; it is the right thing to do. Venezuela must have relationships with all the countries in this hemisphere, as it should with Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.”
These statements coincide with PDVSA's confirmation of the start of negotiations to sell between 30 and 50 million barrels of crude oil to the United States, an operation announced by Donald Trump days earlier.
State-owned Petróleos de Venezuela confirmed on Wednesday that it is negotiating the sale of "volumes" of crude oil, reported official media, supporting what Rodríguez had stated.
"Venezuela is experiencing a new political moment," he stated at the beginning of his speech.
"A moment where we have the highest awareness of what Venezuela's sovereignty, our territorial integrity, and national independence mean, which are the superior virtues of a Republic," he added.
The message was delivered during an event with high-ranking government officials and deputies of the new National Assembly, where Rodríguez aimed to balance the denunciation of military intervention with an openness to trade relations with the United States, a country he referred to as "a nuclear power that has aggressed against Venezuela."
"Venezuela is not at war."
Despite the tensions, Rodríguez sent a strong message of détente.
“Venezuela is not at war. Venezuela is a country of peace that has been attacked by a nuclear power,” he stated.
This phrase, repeated in several segments of his speech, seems to have been carefully crafted to tone down the warlike rhetoric of other members of the government and to project an image of institutional stability.
Rodríguez did not miss the opportunity to hold certain opposition sectors responsible for the crisis.
"The attack on January 3 was driven, requested, supported, and backed by extremism," he said.
However, he also made an unusual appeal for reconciliation: “I call on the opposition of Venezuela. I hope that together and in unity we can move in one direction, to heal the consequences of extremism and fascism in Venezuela.”
The internal message: National unity and productive economy
Rodríguez also addressed the internal actors of chavismo and the national productive apparatus. He introduced the new Vice President of Economy, Calixto Ortega, and urged the Assembly and the private sector to work towards stability.
"The private productive sectors of Venezuela know that they have the public policies of this government to continue promoting market diversification and ensuring that national production crosses our borders," he stated.
And he added: "I ask the representatives to work in national unity so that Venezuela, in this complex moment of dangerous hours, moves towards a future of development, peace, and tranquility in sovereignty to ensure the future."
A new direction for Chavismo?
The combination of these statements raises questions about the strategy of chavismo following the fall of Nicolás Maduro.
While some sectors expected a narrative of direct confrontation with the United States, Rodríguez has chosen a rhetoric that combines criticism and pragmatism, acknowledgment of the facts, and defense of national interests.
Although he emphasizes that the military operation was "an aggression" and "a stain" on bilateral history, he normalizes the oil agreements with Washington and defends trade as a strategic necessity, even amidst a power vacuum and transitional legitimacy.
In the words of the acting president herself:
"Those who have excluded themselves from these relations with Caracas are those who have been complicit in attacking our country."
With this turn, Delcy Rodríguez not only redefines her role at the helm of the state but also suggests a possible reconfiguration of Chavismo on the international stage, where the United States once again becomes a relevant trading partner, albeit without formal diplomatic ties since 2019.
Rodríguez's intervention sends a double-edged message: firmness in the face of aggression, but openness to economic dialogue with the aggressor. It's a complex balance that, for many analysts, reflects more of a political survival need than a genuine ideological shift.
The truth is that the statements made this Wednesday have caught many by surprise, both inside and outside Venezuela, and lay the groundwork for a new chapter - as uncertain as it is unexpected - in the recent history of the South American country.
Filed under:
