Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, said the U.S. ouster of former President Nicolás Maduro put Venezuela on the right track for national and economic policy.
Delcy Rodríguez, a former vice president of Venezuela, took over the country's acting administration after Nicolás Maduro was arrested by U.S. special forces during a lightning military operation in the heart of the capital Caracas in January.
Since taking office, Delcy Rodriguez has worked to fully reopen the country to private investment and foreign corporate interests, under the watchful eye of US President Donald Trump.
In an official speech at a high-level ceremony in the capital, Caracas, Dulce Rodríguez celebrated the full resumption of diplomatic relations between Caracas and Washington, which had been severed for many years.
Rodríguez turns against Maduro in the presence of his son
In her speech in the presence of international guests and with the presence of the son of former President Nicolás Maduro Guerra , the acting president said that January 3, 2026 was a fundamental and decisive turning point in Venezuela's national policy, and in the country's strategic view of international relations as a whole.
Delcy Rodríguez added that Venezuela would not have imagined at this time last year to enter the post-Nicolás Maduro era, adding that almost six months after this change, she feels for sure that this is the right path for Venezuela's renaissance.
At the same time, she considered that the new administration is capable of settling all existing and outstanding political differences between Venezuela and the United States of America through official diplomatic channels.
This major shift in Latin America comes after years of sharp political rupture between Caracas and Washington, where the administration of US President Donald Trump, following the military operation and Maduro's arrest, rushed to restore diplomatic relations and begin easing the severe economic sanctions imposed on the Venezuelan oil sector, as part of US President Donald Trump's efforts to secure and acquire Venezuela's rich oil and gas resources to strengthen global energy markets and alleviate its crises.
Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was transferred to the United States immediately after his arrest, where he is currently being held in a federal prison in New York City, facing criminal and criminal prosecution on official charges related to international drug trafficking and running cross-border smuggling networks, while the interim government headed by Delcy Rodríguez is drafting new trade agreements that will ensure the flow of foreign capital and money to Venezuelan markets.
Colombian President-elect vows to cooperate with Washington
Colombian President-elect Abelardo de la Isprilla welcomed the congratulations of US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stressing his intention to strengthen military cooperation with Washington in the fight against drug cartels, in addition to consolidating political and security relations with Israel on the basis of what he described as "values" and common interests.
De la Isprilla welcomed the congratulations of US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, stressing that from August 7, Colombia will join the so-called "Shield of the Americas" and that his next government will adopt a more assertive policy in confronting the drug trade and associated groups.
De la Isprilla said in a post on the "X" platform: "Thank you, Mr. Minister. As of August 7, Colombia will become part of the Shield of the Americas. "Our country will no longer be ruled by a government that is lenient with drug terrorism, but we will confront it with the firmness it requires."
His remarks came in response to a congratulatory message from Hegseth on the occasion of his victory in the presidential election, in which he called on the new Colombian administration to cooperate with the US War Department and the Anti-Drug Cartel Alliance in the Americas, in order to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries and combat drug production and associated armed groups.
La Isprilla thanks Netanyahu
In a related context, de la Isprilla thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his congratulations, stressing his intention to work to strengthen bilateral relations between Colombia and Israel.
"I thank Benjamin Netanyahu for his congratulations and his willingness to continue to strengthen the historic bonds of friendship and cooperation between Israel and Colombia. I am confident that together we will work together to forge a stronger relationship based on shared values, freedom, security and the well-being of our two peoples."
For his part, Netanyahu congratulated the Colombian president-elect on his victory, expressing his aspiration to work with him to strengthen relations between Israel and Colombia, saying, "I look forward to working with you to strengthen the ties between Israel and Colombia." "The friends of Israel continue to achieve victories," he added.
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