Rodríguez Rejects US Claims of Control, Reaffirms Venezuela’s Sovereignty

By Al Ahed Staff, Agencies

Venezuela’s President Delcy Rodríguez said on Thursday that the country is not “subjugated” by the United States, dismissing assertions by US President Donald Trump that Washington had effectively taken control following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro earlier this month.

Speaking at a ceremony commemorating the 100 Venezuelans killed during the US assault on January 3, Rodríguez insisted that Venezuela had neither surrendered nor submitted. “We are not subordinate or subjugated,” she said, adding that there was resistance and “fighting for the homeland” when US forces entered Venezuelan territory.

Her remarks underscored the government’s emphasis on national sovereignty amid heightened tensions after the operation that led to Maduro’s kidnapping.

Rodríguez said Venezuela remains open to energy cooperation that “benefits all parties,” but stressed that the country “will not surrender to any form of aggression” and continues to extend a hand of cooperation to nations worldwide.

She emphasized that Venezuela is not at war and has consistently prioritized peace, while accusing a nuclear power—the United States—of carrying out acts of aggression against the country. Addressing allegations of drug trafficking, Rodríguez said they were being used as a pretext to seize control of Venezuela’s oil resources for the benefit of the Global North.

She noted that Venezuela holds some of the world’s largest oil and gas reserves, which she said must be used for national development and to serve the Venezuelan people.

Earlier on Wednesday, Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA said it was engaged in negotiations with the United States to sell crude oil, stating that the talks were taking place within the framework of existing commercial relations and that progress had been made.

In a statement, PDVSA said the discussions followed arrangements similar to those used with international companies such as Chevron and were based on purely commercial terms that meet standards of legality, transparency, and mutual benefit.

The company reaffirmed its commitment to partnerships that support national development, protect the rights of the Venezuelan people, and contribute to global energy stability, later reiterating that any deal with the United States would remain strictly commercial in nature.