Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that “enough is enough” of U.S. orders as the country seeks to unite the country following the U.S. detention of former leader Nicolas Maduro.
Rodriguez has been walking a tightrope ever since receiving interim U.S. support. It is a balance between keeping Maduro supporters in the country and ensuring the satisfaction of the White House.
Now, about a month after taking office, Rodriguez has pushed back against the United States amid continued pressure, including a series of demands on Venezuela to resume oil production.
“We’ve had enough of Washington’s orders to Venezuelan politicians,” she told a group of oil workers in the city of Puerto La Cruz in an event broadcast by state channel Venezuelan de Televisión.
“Let us resolve our differences and internal conflicts in Venezuelan politics. This republic has paid a very high price for having to confront the consequences of fascism and extremism in our country.”
The White House has maintained steady pressure on Venezuela since President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested in a raid in early January and taken to the United States, where the former leader is facing charges.
Mr. Rodríguez, Maduro’s former deputy, has insisted in recent weeks that the United States does not govern Venezuela, but he similarly does not seek confrontation with the U.S. government.
Immediately after Maduro’s arrest, US President Donald Trump claimed that the US was “going to run” Venezuela, but later supported Rodriguez as the country’s interim leader.
CNN has reached out to the White House for comment on Rodriguez’s latest statement.
For the past 25 years, oil-rich socialist Venezuela has been in constant conflict with the United States. However, after deposing President Maduro, Washington is now seeking to secure a stable source of authority in Caracas.
Domestically, it remains divided between Maduro supporters, left-wing opposition parties, and “Chavez No Maduristas,” supporters of the late Hugo Chávez who reject Maduro and accuse him of betraying 21st century socialist ideals.
Days after the U.S. attack on Caracas in early January, the Trump administration outlined a number of demands that Venezuela must agree to. Those included cutting ties with China, Iran, Russia and Cuba and agreeing to partner exclusively with the United States on oil production, two senior White House officials told CNN at the time.
Rodriguez was also expected to prioritize the Trump administration and U.S. oil companies for future oil sales.
Venezuela’s main economic engine is oil. This country boasts the world’s largest reserves of super heavy crude oil. Extra-heavy crude oil requires a more complex and expensive refining process, but is also compatible with U.S. refineries.
CNN’s Yvonne Valdes Garay, Isabel D’Antonio, Rocio Muñoz-Ledo and Mauricio Torres contributed to this report.
