US President Donald Trump threatens Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, saying she will pay a ‘very big price’ if she does not cooperate
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has warned that Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez will pay a “very big price” if she does not cooperate with the United States.
“If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump told The Atlantic in a telephone interview.
The threat follows a US military operation that seized former president Nicolas Maduro and his wife from Caracas on Saturday.
Maduro now faces federal narcotrafficking charges in New York.
The Trump administration says it is willing to work with the rest of Maduro’s government if Washington’s goals are met.
These goals include opening access for US investment in Venezuela’s enormous crude oil reserves.
Rodriguez was confirmed as interim president by Venezuela’s Supreme Court and military officials following the raid.
She declared Maduro the country’s sole legitimate leader and vowed to defend Venezuela’s natural resources.
Trump has long campaigned against US nation-building and regime change in foreign countries.
However, he stated the United States will “run” Venezuela following the operation.
“Rebuilding there and regime change — anything you want to call it — is better than what you have right now,” he told The Atlantic.
“Rebuilding is not a bad thing in Venezuela’s case. The country’s gone to hell. It’s a failed country.”
The 79-year-old Republican also repeated his demand for Greenland to become part of the United States.
Asked what the Venezuela action signalled for Greenland, Trump said, “They are going to have to view it themselves.”
“But we do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence.”
