Venezuela interim leader seeks US cooperation after Maduro arrest

Venezuela interim leader Delcy Rodriguez said she is seeking structured engagement with the United States following a US operation that led to the detention of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. In a public statement, Rodriguez framed the outreach as a bid for dialogue grounded in international law, stressing cooperation over escalation as Caracas reacts to the unprecedented move.

Call for dialogue and sovereign equality

Rodriguez said the proposed talks would prioritize “shared development” and respectful relations, emphasizing non-interference and sovereign equality. “We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development,” she said, adding that Venezuela favors balanced ties with Washington and regional partners, a message she said reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.

Washington’s response and conditions

US President Donald Trump responded by saying Rodriguez is “cooperating,” while warning that failure to do so could bring harsher consequences. Asked what Washington expects, Trump said the US needs “total access,” including to oil resources, arguing such access would help rebuild the country. The remarks underscore the leverage Washington is seeking as it presses Caracas.

Detentions, charges and regional context

Maduro and Flores were flown to New York and are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on federal charges linked to narcotics trafficking and alleged ties with groups designated as terrorist organizations. Maduro has rejected the accusations, and officials in Caracas have demanded their release. The developments have drawn attention across Latin America and beyond, with countries including Türkiye closely watching the legal and diplomatic fallout.