US warns Maduro’s successor about use of force

The statement is part of the speech that the head of American diplomacy will give this Wednesday (28) before the Senate to explain the policy used by the White House in Venezuela after the January 3 attack in Caracas that resulted in the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

“We will closely monitor the performance of the interim authorities as they cooperate with our phased plan to restore stability in Venezuela. Let there be no doubt: as the president has stated, we are prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail,” says Rubio’s speech, published Tuesday by the State Department.

According to Rubio, the US hopes that “this will not be necessary”, but warns that the Trump administration will “never shirk” its duty to the American people nor its mission to lead the American continent.

“Rodríguez is fully aware of Maduro’s destiny; we believe that, for his own personal interest, it coincides with the advancement of our objectives”, the text further says.

Rubio’s speech in the Senate will come after, this same week, Delcy Rodríguez said that his interim regime will no longer accept external orders. Trump softened Maduro’s successor’s statement a day later, saying he has a “very good relationship” with her.

Intelligence reports question cooperation from Chavista successor

A series of reports from US intelligence agencies have raised questions about interim dictator Delcy Rodríguez’s cooperation with Donald Trump’s government, four people familiar with the documents revealed to Reuters.

This assessment points out that it is not clear whether it is fully aligned with the American strategy for the country. Washington pressured the regime to abandon former allies considered threats in the hemisphere such as Russia, China and Iran, which it has done or signaled that it would comply with until now.

Trump also made mention of Cuba, which he wants Venezuela to abandon for good. The allied regime cooperated in providing security and intelligence to Maduro while receiving Venezuelan oil at a low cost.