(Caracas) Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez said in a speech to parliament on Thursday that the country was not afraid to “diplomatically confront” the United States, less than two weeks after the January 3 American attack that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
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“We know that the United States is very powerful. (…) We are not afraid to confront the United States diplomatically, through political dialogue,” said Mr.me Rodriguez in his State of the Nation address, drawing a standing ovation from the National Assembly.
Mme Rodriguez also demanded from the United States “respect for the dignity of President Nicolás Maduro” and that of his wife Cilia Flores, also captured during the intervention.
Accused of drug trafficking, the couple is imprisoned in the United States awaiting trial.
Invested on January 5, Mme Rodriguez, who was Nicolás Maduro’s vice-president, is one of the personalities sanctioned by the American authorities.
PHOTO PEDRO MATTEY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The United States sold $500 million worth of Venezuelan oil.
On Wednesday, Donald Trump said that the interim president was a “great person” assuring that the United States “worked very well” with the new leader.
During her speech Thursday she said: “I have always said that if one day, as interim president, I have to go to Washington, I will do it standing up, without dragging myself (at anyone’s feet).”
Under American pressure, the Venezuelan government signed oil agreements with the United States and announced the release of political prisoners.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, US President Donald Trump received opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado at the White House.
