Venezuela’s acting president after her government announced the resumption of relations with Washington: We’ll confront American aggression through diplomatic means

Venezuela’s acting president said Friday that her country would confront US aggression through diplomatic means, as her government announced steps to resume relations with Washington following the arrest of her predecessor.

Delcy Rodriguez said in a statement that she discussed in an online meeting with Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Colombian Gustavo Petro and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the serious, criminal, illegal and illegitimate attack launched by US forces that led to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro on January 3.

She added, “I reaffirmed that Venezuela will continue to confront this aggression through diplomatic channels,” shortly after Washington and Caracas expressed their desire to resume diplomatic relations.

Rodriguez said the two countries agreed to move forward with an expanded bilateral cooperation program while respecting sovereignty and engaging in dialogue.

In a separate statement, the Venezuelan acting president thanked the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for his willingness to contribute to the development of a dialogue agenda between the United States and Venezuela based on respect and international law.

Qatar has played the role of mediator in negotiations between Venezuela and the United States for years, and after Maduro’s arrest, offered its mediation again, calling for resolving disputes through dialogue.

Earlier on Friday, Venezuela announced that it had begun talks with the United States on resuming diplomatic relations, days after US forces arrested President Nicolas Maduro and removed him from the capital, Caracas.

This is the latest sign of cooperation following the arrest of the leftist leader and US President Donald Trump’s declaration that he is taking charge of the South American nation.

Officials said that US diplomats visited Caracas to discuss reopening the US embassy.

Meanwhile, anxious relatives gathered outside Venezuelan prisons on Friday awaiting the release of their loved ones as authorities began freeing political prisoners, a move Washington said was prompted by its efforts.

Venezuela began releasing prisoners on Thursday in the first such move since US forces arrested Maduro in a bloody raid on January 3.

Among those released was Enrique Marquez, the former opposition candidate who faced Maduro in the disputed 2024 presidential election.

Jorge Rodriguez, the head of parliament and brother of the acting president, said that a large number of Venezuelan and foreign nationals were released immediately in order to peaceful coexistence.

From his part, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto said in a statement that the government of acting President Delcy Rodriguez “has decided to begin an exploratory diplomatic process with the government of the United States, aimed at refocusing diplomatic missions in both countries”.

According to a US official who asked not to be identified said that the top US diplomat in neighboring Colombia, John McNamara, and other officials, traveled to Caracas to conduct a preliminary assessment of the possibility of resuming operations in phases.

Caracas said it would respond in kind by sending a delegation to Washington.

Trump announced on Friday that he had called off a second wave of attacks on Venezuela after the new leadership in Caracas announced its intention to cooperate with Washington.

The US president also hinted that he might use force again to achieve his goals in Venezuela, which has the world’s largest proven oil reserves.

The United States announced on Friday that it had seized another oil tanker near Venezuela as part of its oil embargo against the country.

Trump said companies have promised to invest $100 billion in Venezuela’s oil sector, whose infrastructure has deteriorated due to years of mismanagement and sanctions.

He had previously announced a plan to sell the United States between 30 million and 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil, with him deciding how the money would be used.

Trump had previously downplayed democracy as a motivating factor for the attack, even though the United States has said for years that Maduro is illegitimate and that the elections were marred by fraud.

But the US president said he will meet next week with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, whom he previously described as a very nice woman but who lacks the respect needed to lead Venezuela.

Trump told Fox News, “I think she’ll be coming sometime next week, and I look forward to greeting her”.

For his part, exiled opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia said that any democratic transition in the country requires recognition of his victory in the 2024 presidential election.

Maduro was declared the winner of those elections, but dozens of countries, especially Western ones, considered the vote to be fraudulent.

US special forces carried out the operation to arrest Nicolas Maduro, which resulted in the death of 100 people, according to a tally announced by Caracas.

US forces transported Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores to New York to stand trial on drug trafficking charges.

Despite pledging to cooperate with the Trump administration, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez stressed on Thursday that her country isn’t subservient or subordinate.

Angry protesters gathered in the streets of Caracas on Friday demanding the release of Maduro, noting that such demonstrations are held daily.