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Rodriguez: Venezuela-US Relations Have Been Tarnished

Published January 8, 2026, 06:12
Rodriguez: Venezuela-US Relations Have Been Tarnished

The interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, stated that her country's relations with the US have been tarnished following the US military operation on January 3rd, which led to the capture and removal of Nicolas Maduro from the country. Despite the strained relations, Rodriguez noted that trade transactions with the US continue, with the state oil company PdVSA negotiating the sale of crude oil to the US. President Trump has assured that the interim government of Venezuela will “deliver” between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil to the US, representing two months of production. This agreement has been described by the US government as “historic” and is expected to extend beyond the simple sale of oil. Trump stated that Venezuela will use the revenue from oil sales to purchase “only American products,” particularly agricultural goods and pharmaceuticals. Rodriguez, for her part, emphasized her country's desire to develop economic, trade, and energy cooperation with all countries of the world. Washington is considering lifting sanctions against Venezuela, but in a “selective” manner, in order to facilitate the sale of Venezuelan oil to the traditional market. The situation remains fluid, with relations between the two countries at a critical juncture.