Venezuela's Acting President Slams US 'Energy Greed', Calls for Respectful Relations

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez has launched a scathing attack on US President Donald Trump, accusing him of 'energy greed' and rejecting allegations of drug trafficking and human rights abuses linked to the tenure of her predecessor, Nicolas Maduro. Speaking on state television, Rodriguez said the US was motivated by a desire to control Venezuela's vast oil reserves, which she described as 'the real reason' behind Washington's actions. "It was always about the oil," she said, adding that Venezuela is an 'energy powerhouse' with resources that are coveted by the US. Rodriguez's comments came after Trump claimed that the US was receiving full cooperation from Venezuela's government and would retain control over the country and its oil reserves for years. However, the acting president rejected the idea of a one-sided deal, saying that Venezuela is open to energy relationships where all parties benefit. The US move to capture Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on Saturday has sparked a diplomatic row, with lawmakers in Venezuela denouncing the action as an 'illegitimate military aggression'. Maduro's son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, warned that if the US is allowed to normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country would be safe. The US has said that it will temporarily 'run' Venezuela, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that Washington will not govern the country on a day-to-day basis, aside from enforcing an existing 'oil quarantine'. Rubio said that the pressure on Venezuela's oil industry is intended to push policy changes and stop drug trafficking. Rodriguez's comments mark a shift in tone from her previous defiance, as she now seeks 'respectful relations' with the US. However, the underlying tensions between the two countries remain, with Rodriguez warning that extremist or fascist expressions cannot be allowed as they have led to 'very dangerous situations' for Venezuela's stability.