The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, issued a defiant message to the United States on Thursday during her accountability session before Parliament, stating that if she ever had to travel to Washington, she would do so "standing, walking, not crawling."
According to the agency EFE, Rodríguez accused the United States of imposing a "naval blockade" prior to the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro on January 3, and of attempting to "limit Venezuela's ability to sell products from its oil industry abroad."
"I would like to begin by kindly asking, on behalf of everyone present, for a minute of applause for our young heroes and heroines who died in combat against the invading aggressor," Rodríguez said before the deputies, referring to the U.S. troops that took part in the military operation that led to the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
During her speech at the Federal Legislative Palace in Caracas, the interim leader called for "honor and glory" for the "humble young Venezuelans" who, she said, "fought in the dark dawn of that January 3rd."
Rodríguez stated that the U.S. "naval blockade" has aimed to prevent Venezuelan oil exports under free and commercial conditions.
“It’s not that the acting president is afraid because she is being threatened. No. All of Venezuela is threatened,” she stated before delivering her most quoted phrase of the day:
"If one day I am called, as the acting president, to go to Washington, I will do so standing, walking, not crawling. I will do it with the tricolor flag."
The chavista official accused Washington of having "invaded, assaulted, and kidnapped" President Maduro and his wife, and described the U.S. military operation as "a stain" on the relations between the two countries.
Rodríguez presented her management report before the National Assembly accompanied by senior officials of the regime, including the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, and the President of the Supreme Court, Caryslia Rodríguez.
The main leaders of the ruling party and representatives of the moderate opposition also attended.
In his speech, Rodríguez assured that the Chavista government has "a plan for this new year," despite international isolation and the sanctions imposed by the United States.
He reported that the recent orders to confiscate oil tankers sanctioned by Washington were "a preliminary step" to the capture of Maduro and Flores, carried out by U.S. forces in Caracas and other regions of the country.
The interim president reiterated that her government "will defend the peace of Venezuela" and expressed readiness to maintain a "cooperation agenda" with the United States, with whose president, Donald Trump, she said she spoke this week about bilateral issues and the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations.
Rodríguez assumed the head of state position on January 5, following a decision by the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) that granted him the authority to "ensure administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the nation."
His speech, laden with nationalist references and criticisms of Washington, comes at a time when chavismo is trying to maintain internal cohesion following Maduro's detention and the consolidation of Rodríguez's role as the face of the regime in front of the international community.
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