Caracas, Jan 05 (V7N)- Venezuela’s newly appointed acting president Delcy Rodriguez has softened her stance toward the United States, signaling a willingness to cooperate following sharp tensions sparked by Washington’s arrest of President Nicolas Maduro.

Rodriguez made the conciliatory remarks on Sunday (January 4) local time, a day after US President Donald Trump issued strong warnings against the Venezuelan leadership. The shift comes shortly after Rodriguez assumed office as acting president following a midnight US raid on Saturday (January 3) that resulted in the detention of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

After taking office on Sunday night, Rodriguez wrote on her Telegram channel,
"We consider mutual development and respectful relations between the United States and Venezuela a priority."

A Venezuelan court formally ordered the appointment of Vice President Rodriguez as acting president. The US operation leading to Maduro’s arrest is being described by analysts as one of the largest American military actions abroad since the 2011 killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

However, Rodriguez’s latest remarks mark a sharp reversal from her earlier position. In a televised address on Saturday, she strongly condemned the US operation, calling it a violation of international law and declaring,
"The only president of Venezuela is Nicolas Maduro."

She also accused the Trump administration of being a “group of extremists.” In response, President Trump warned in an interview with The Atlantic on Sunday that if Rodriguez did not “do the right thing,” she would face consequences “probably more severe than Maduro.”

Sunday’s statement reflects a significant shift in rhetoric, suggesting a possible recalibration of Caracas’ approach toward Washington amid rapidly evolving political and security developments.

END/SMA/AJ