By Zoila Palma: The Trump administration has laid out a series of demands for Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, signaling that cooperation with Washington will be required to avoid further U.S. military action.
U.S. officials say Rodríguez, who assumed control following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, is being pressed to take steps her predecessor repeatedly rejected, as the White House seeks to reshape Venezuela’s role in the region.
According to U.S. officials familiar with the discussions, Washington wants Rodríguez to crack down on drug trafficking, expel Iranian, Cuban and other foreign operatives deemed hostile to U.S. interests, and halt oil sales to American adversaries.
U.S. officials also expect Rodríguez to eventually facilitate free elections and step aside, though they stress that timelines are fluid and that no elections are imminent.
The administration has framed these expectations as conditions for stability rather than an immediate transition plan, Politico reports.
Two days after U.S. forces struck Venezuela and detained Maduro, uncertainty remains over Washington’s long-term strategy.
The White House insists the operation was a law enforcement action against a drug trafficker, not a regime change effort. Still, President Donald Trump has warned that Rodríguez faces further military action if she fails to comply, underscoring the pressure being applied as Venezuela grapples with economic collapse and the risk of renewed instability.
Rodríguez has emerged as a central figure in U.S. calculations, despite her long-standing ties to Maduro’s government.
After initially condemning Maduro’s capture, she signaled a shift in tone, saying she would work with the United States “on an agenda of cooperation.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has echoed that message publicly, saying Washington expects greater cooperation from Caracas on narcotics, foreign influence and regional security than it received under Maduro.
The post International News: Trump Administration sets tough conditions for Venezuela’s interim leader appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The Trump administration has laid out a series of demands for Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, signaling that cooperation with Washington will be required to avoid further U.S. military action. U.S. officials say Rodríguez, who assumed control following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, is being pressed to take steps her predecessor repeatedly
The post International News: Trump Administration sets tough conditions for Venezuela’s interim leader appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.