Venezuela acting president seeks collaboration with US government

Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodríguez extended an invitation to the United States to collaborate on a cooperative agenda, in a statement posted on social media that took on a conciliatory tone following the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

Rodríguez emphasized that Venezuela “aspires to live without external threats” and expressed her desire to prioritize moving toward balanced and respectful relations with the United States.

In her full statement, she said:

“A message from Venezuela to the world, and to the United States:

Venezuela reaffirms its commitment to peace and peaceful coexistence. Our country aspires to live without external threats, in an environment of respect and international cooperation. We believe that global peace is built by first guaranteeing peace within each nation.

We prioritize moving towards balanced and respectful international relations between the United States and Venezuela, and between Venezuela and other countries in the region, premised on sovereign equality and non-interference. These principles guide our diplomacy with the rest of the world.

We invite the U.S. government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence.

President Donald Trump, our peoples, and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war. This has always been President Nicolás Maduro's message, and it is the message of all of Venezuela right now. This is the Venezuela I believe in and have dedicated my life to. I dream of a Venezuela where all good Venezuelans can come together.

Venezuela has the right to peace, development, sovereignty, and a future.”

The statement was signed by Delcy Rodríguez, Acting President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

-Reporting by Neil Fullick/Reuters