Delcy Rodríguez Advocates for U.S. Relations, Catching Many Off Guard

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez made headlines on Wednesday with unexpected remarks that signal a notable shift in the traditional Chavista rhetoric towards the United States.

Amidst an unprecedented institutional crisis following the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores by U.S. forces, Rodríguez adopted a surprisingly conciliatory tone concerning trade and energy relations, despite criticizing the military intervention.

A Surprising Defense of Economic Ties

One of the most striking aspects of her statements was her open defense of commercial ties with the United States, just after a military operation that she described as “a stain on our relations that had never happened before in our history.”

Rodríguez emphasized that this economic relationship not only continues but is crucial for Venezuela:

“It is neither extraordinary nor irregular for both countries to maintain economic agreements,” she highlighted.

She further disclosed, “71 percent of Venezuelan exports are concentrated in eight countries, with 27 percent of that directed to the United States.”

Balancing Sovereignty and Negotiation

At a time when Washington is imposing stringent conditions, such as severing ties with China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba, Rodríguez defended Venezuela’s sovereignty while leaving the door open for agreements demanded by the Trump administration.

“Venezuela is open to energy relations where all parties benefit, where economic cooperation is well defined in commercial contracts. That is our stance,” she explained, a statement seen as a clear indication of willingness to negotiate.

Economic Diversification and Internal Unity

Rodríguez went further, stressing the diversification of Venezuela’s economic and geopolitical relationships worldwide. “Venezuela's economic relations are diversified across various global markets, as are our geopolitical ties. And that’s the way it should be,” she affirmed.

These comments coincide with PDVSA confirming negotiations to sell between 30 and 50 million barrels of crude to the United States, an operation announced by Donald Trump days earlier.

“The state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela confirmed on Wednesday it is negotiating the sale of 'volumes' of crude oil,” official media reported, supporting Rodríguez's remarks.

Venezuela's Message of Peace

Despite the tensions, Rodríguez delivered a strong message of détente. “Venezuela is not at war. Venezuela is a country of peace that was aggressed by a nuclear power,” she asserted.

This phrase, reiterated throughout her speech, seemed carefully crafted to dial down the warlike tone of other government officials and present an image of institutional stability.

Rodríguez seized the moment to blame opposition sectors for the crisis. “The January 3 attack was driven, requested, supported, and backed by extremism,” she stated.

However, she also made an unusual call for reconciliation: “I call on Venezuela’s opposition. I hope that together and united, we move forward to heal the consequences of extremism and fascism in Venezuela.”

Chavismo's Potential New Direction

Rodríguez also addressed internal Chavista actors and the national productive apparatus. She introduced the new Vice President of Economy, Calixto Ortega, and urged both the Assembly and the private sector to work towards stability.

“Venezuela’s private productive sectors know they have the public policies of this Government to continue promoting market diversification and ensure that national production crosses our borders,” she asserted.

And she added, “I ask the deputies to work in national unity so that Venezuela, in this complex moment of dangerous times, moves towards a future of development, peace, and tranquility in sovereignty to guarantee the future.”

The breadth of these declarations raises questions about the Chavista strategy following Nicolás Maduro's fall.

While some expected a narrative of outright confrontation with the United States, Rodríguez has opted for rhetoric that blends criticism and pragmatism, recognizing the facts while defending national interests.

Though she underscores that the military operation was “an aggression” and “a stain” on bilateral history, she normalizes oil agreements with Washington and defends trade as a strategic necessity, even amid a power vacuum and transitional legitimacy.

In her own words: “Those who have excluded themselves from these relations with Caracas are those who have lent themselves to aggress our country.”

With this shift, Delcy Rodríguez not only redefines her role at the helm of the state but hints at a possible reconfiguration of Chavismo on the international stage, where the United States once again emerges as a key commercial partner, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties since 2019.

Rodríguez's intervention sends a double-edged message: firmness against aggression, yet openness to economic dialogue with the aggressor. A complex balance that many analysts see as more a necessity for political survival than a genuine ideological shift.

The truth is that Wednesday’s statements have caught many by surprise, both inside and outside Venezuela, laying the groundwork for a new chapter—uncertain and unexpected—in the recent history of the South American nation.