Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has slammed President Donald Trump for conducting strikes at the Latin American nation and said that allegations of drugs, democracy and human rights were all 'false'. She said that all these allegations were levelled by the United States (US) because of its interests in the country's 'oil', but noted that Venezuela is open to energy relations where 'all parties benefit'.
The 56-year-old acting president made the remarks while speaking at the Venezuelan Parliament on Thursday.
"We are an energy powerhouse, we truly are," Rodriguez said. "It has brought us tremendous problems, because you all know that the energy greed of the North wants resource of our country. And we have denounced it all the falsehoods about drug trafficking, democracy, and human rights. They were the excuses because what has always been present is the (threat) that Venezuela's oil must be handed over to the global North."
US strikes Venezuela, captures Nicolas Maduro
Tensions had been soaring between the US and Venezuela for past few months, with Trump accusing President Nicolas Maduro of supporting narco terrorists. The US also launched strikes on January 3 and captured Maduro before flowing him out of Venezuela. Maduro has been brought to New York, where he is facing trials.
Trump has said that the US will now control the oil reserves of Venezuela. It must be noted that Venezuela has one of the largest oil reserves of the world. Earlier in the day, the US president also said that Venezuela will only purchase American Made Products, "with the money receive" from the new oil deal. He said that Venezuela is committing to doing business with the US as its 'principal partner'.
"These purchases will include, among other things, American Agricultural Products, and American Made Medicines, Medical Devices, and Equipment to improve Venezuela’s Electric Grid and Energy Facilities," he posted on Truth Social.
