In a dramatic move this weekend, US President Donald Trump threatened Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, saying she could "pay a very big price" if she refuses to cooperate with US authorities. This came after Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was seized by American forces on January 3 and flown to New York to face trial on alleged drug charges.
During a phone interview on January 4, Trump warned Rodriguez: "If she doesn't do what's right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro." These remarks intensified tensions as Rodriguez officially took over the presidency following a Supreme Court decision late Saturday.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio added fuel to the fire in a Sunday interview, stating that all options remain on the table—including the possibility of a future US military presence in Venezuela. "We want drug trafficking to stop. We want no more gang members to come our way," Rubio said, emphasizing Washington's hard line against narco-terrorism in the region 🚨🌎.
In Caracas, Rodriguez condemned the raid as a "savage attack" on Venezuela's sovereignty and demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife. The Bolivarian National Armed Forces condemned the operation, accusing US troops of murdering security personnel and civilians in cold blood. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced a Full Operational Readiness Plan to defend the nation’s independence and maintain internal order.
The international community reacted with shock. In Madrid, dozens of protesters—migrants and Latin American descendants—gathered outside the US Embassy waving flags and chanting "Venezuela, an immortal nation!" They called US intervention a violation of international law and warned it could set a dangerous regional precedent.
With the hearing scheduled for today in New York, Venezuela stands at a crossroads. Will Rodriguez bow to US pressure, or will Caracas brace for a deeper confrontation? One thing is clear: tensions are at an all-time high, and the world is watching 😬.
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U.S. threatens Venezuela's acting president as Maduro awaits hearing
cgtn.com
