Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez has pledged to confront what she described as U.S. aggression through diplomatic means. In a statement cited by TRT World, Rodríguez said Caracas is seeking to restore relations with Washington following the abduction of former president Nicolás Maduro. She held phone discussions with the leaders of Brazil, Colombia, and Spain, reaffirming that Venezuela would respond to the situation diplomatically.

Earlier, Venezuela released a large number of political prisoners, including several foreigners, in what observers viewed as part of efforts to ease tensions with the United States and reach a new political understanding. The move came after Maduro’s removal from power, as the new leadership sought to reduce U.S. pressure.

This mass release, the first under Rodríguez’s leadership, received support from U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed satisfaction with the decision. Trump stated that Rodríguez would be allowed to govern as long as Washington maintained access to Venezuelan oil.

The article reports that the United States launched a military invasion of Venezuela on January 2, removing President Nicolás Maduro and taking control of the country’s vast oil reserves. The U.S. Department of Energy announced that it will now fully oversee all Venezuelan oil sales. President Donald Trump justified the action by claiming Venezuela had stolen American-built oil infrastructure and declared that U.S. companies would re-enter Venezuela to modernize its oil industry.

Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, estimated at 303 billion barrels, accounting for 17–20 percent of global supply. The country’s nationalization of oil in 1976 and the socialist policies of former President Hugo Chávez led to decades of tension with Washington. U.S. sanctions and Venezuela’s declining production weakened its economy and military, leaving it vulnerable to external aggression.

The author argues that the invasion marks the breakdown of the international rules-based order and a return to power-based dominance. The piece warns that weaker nations, including Bangladesh, must strengthen military and diplomatic capacity to protect sovereignty in an increasingly aggressive global environment.

Venezuela began releasing a large number of political prisoners, including several foreign nationals, last Thursday. The move is being viewed as part of efforts to ease tensions with the United States and establish a new political understanding following the ouster of former leader Nicolás Maduro. The initiative, led by Delcy Rodríguez, marks the first such large-scale release and has received support from U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed satisfaction with the decision.

According to the report, Trump stated that Rodríguez would be allowed to govern as long as Washington retains access to Venezuelan oil. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly described the release as an example of the president using his full authority to uphold the rights of both American and Venezuelan people. Jorge Rodríguez, the Venezuelan parliament speaker and brother of Delcy Rodríguez, said the release aims to ensure peaceful coexistence, though he did not specify the number or locations of those freed.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado welcomed the announcement on social media, calling it a sign that injustice cannot last forever and that truth ultimately prevails.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez declared that no one in her country had surrendered following the U.S. military attack on January 3. Speaking at a memorial event on Thursday for those killed in the assault, she emphasized that Venezuela remains independent and that its people fought for their homeland during the attack.

Her remarks came after former U.S. president Donald Trump repeatedly claimed that the United States would run Venezuela following the removal of Nicolás Maduro. In a recent interview with NBC, Trump said he was currently in charge of the country and suggested that direct U.S. control over Venezuela could last for years. When asked by The New York Times how long the U.S. would remain there, Trump avoided a direct answer, implying that American dominance would depend on time.

Rejecting Trump’s assertions, Rodríguez reaffirmed that Venezuela is not under foreign rule and that its government alone governs the nation.

Venezuela has claimed that at least 100 people were killed in a United States-led operation conducted to capture President Nicolás Maduro. The announcement was made on Wednesday, January 7, by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. The government had not previously released an official death toll, but the Venezuelan military separately published a list naming 23 dead soldiers. Officials alleged that a significant portion of Maduro’s security forces were deliberately executed during the operation.

Cuba reported that several of its military and intelligence personnel stationed in Venezuela were also killed in the same operation. Cabello stated that during the assault, President Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, was taken and suffered a head injury, while Maduro himself was wounded in the leg. In his weekly program broadcast on state television, Cabello paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, describing them as brave.

The Venezuelan government has declared a week of national mourning starting Tuesday in honor of those killed, according to Cabello’s televised remarks.

Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez has declared seven days of national mourning following a US military strike on Saturday that killed at least 57 people. In a televised address on Tuesday, Rodríguez said the mourning honors those who gave their lives defending the country and President Nicolás Maduro.

According to BBC, the dead include 23 members of Venezuela’s security forces, 32 Cuban fighters, and two civilian women. Cuba’s state newspaper Granma published details of the fallen soldiers under the headline “Honor and Glory.” The Cuban government expressed condolences to the families of the 32 Cuban fighters, while President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced two days of national mourning in Cuba to honor their bravery and dignity.

Cuba has long been a close ally of Venezuela, providing military and police support in key operations. Mourning ceremonies were held across both countries over the weekend to commemorate the victims.

Thousands of Venezuelans gathered in Caracas to show support for President Nicolás Maduro following his reported abduction along with his wife by the United States. Protesters waved national flags, sang patriotic songs, and chanted anti-American slogans. The demonstration was joined by Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, according to TRT World.

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez asserted that no foreign power governs Venezuela, rejecting earlier remarks by US President Donald Trump claiming the United States would run the country until a change occurs. Rodríguez emphasized that the Venezuelan government remains in control and declared seven days of mourning for 24 Venezuelan soldiers killed in a US military operation. Cuba also reported the deaths of 32 of its military members.

The Trump administration has not yet clarified its plans for Venezuela since Maduro’s detention, leaving uncertainty about Washington’s next steps in the crisis.

Suspected Colombian guerrilla commanders are fleeing Venezuela following a U.S. military operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power, according to a Colombian security source cited by AFP on Tuesday. The report said the situation emerged after Washington’s weekend assault in Caracas, which led to Maduro’s ouster. Colombia has long suspected that leaders of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and remnants of the disbanded FARC group had taken refuge in Venezuela, controlling cocaine trafficking routes along the border.

Security analysts noted that several ELN bases operated inside Venezuela under conditions tolerated by the Maduro government, though Caracas consistently denied such allegations. A Colombian military officer told AFP that guerrilla leaders are now attempting to cross back into Colombia. In response, Bogotá’s defense ministry warned that their presence near the border could pose a serious national security threat. Thousands of troops have been deployed along the more than 2,200-kilometer frontier to prevent potential attacks.

AFP journalists reported visible Colombian army patrols in the border city of Cúcuta on Tuesday.

Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez stated on Tuesday that no foreign power governs her country. Speaking on national television, she emphasized that Venezuela is under its own government’s authority and not directed by any external force. Her remarks came amid heightened tensions following a U.S. military operation in the country.

Venezuela’s Prosecutor General Tarek William Saab called for the immediate release of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, describing the U.S. military action as an illegal armed aggression lacking a declaration of war or United Nations Security Council authorization. The Venezuelan government released a list of 24 soldiers killed in the operation, while Cuba reported the deaths of 32 of its military members. Rodríguez declared seven days of national mourning in their memory.

Since Maduro’s detention from his residence, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has not clarified its plans for Venezuela. Trump said the United States would run the country, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that U.S. officials would provide guidance on how it should be governed.

The United Nations has expressed deep concern over a recent dramatic operation by the United States in Venezuela, warning that it constitutes a clear violation of a fundamental principle of international law. The statement was reported from Geneva on Tuesday by AFP, where the UN said the incident raises serious concerns about international law and state sovereignty.

At a press conference in Geneva, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, stated that any threat or use of force by one state against another’s territorial integrity or political independence is contrary to international law. She added that such actions could undermine global stability and the international law-based order.

The UN’s remarks highlight growing apprehension about the implications of unilateral military or coercive actions, emphasizing the need to uphold international legal norms and respect for national sovereignty.

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has criticized the United States for its recent operation in Venezuela, calling it a disregard for a fundamental principle of international law. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said that no state should threaten or use force against another country's territorial integrity or political independence.

The criticism followed an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, where several US allies opposed President Trump's military action. France took one of the clearest positions against the move, with its deputy permanent representative Joy Dharmadhikari stating that the detention of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by the US violated the principles of peaceful dispute resolution and non-use of force. China also reiterated its opposition for the fourth consecutive day, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning expressing readiness to work with regional countries to maintain peace and stability.

Historically, Maduro has considered China a close ally, a factor that may influence future diplomatic alignments in the region.

The Trump administration is preparing to reopen the United States embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, according to a senior State Department official who spoke to Anadolu Agency on Monday, January 5. The official said the plan remains in its early stages and no final decision has been made. President Trump confirmed a day earlier that the matter is under consideration.

The US embassy in Caracas was closed in 2019 after Washington recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate president, rejecting Nicolás Maduro’s 2018 re-election as invalid. The move marked a major diplomatic break between the two countries.

The renewed embassy plan follows a US overnight military operation on January 2 that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and his transfer to New York. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in court on January 5 on charges of arms and drug trafficking, which they denied.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has said that a 'free Venezuela' will become the main energy hub for both North and South America. The statement was reported by AFP from Washington. She expressed optimism that Venezuela, known for having the world’s largest oil reserves, could achieve this goal.

Machado made the remarks during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday. She stated that her vision is to transform Venezuela into the leading energy center of the Americas, highlighting the country’s potential role in regional energy development.

The comments reflect her broader political message of economic revival through energy sector reform, though the report did not specify any detailed plans or timelines for achieving this transformation.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of a second round of attacks on Venezuela if the country fails to cooperate with Washington. He made the statement on Sunday while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One. When asked whether he had spoken with Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez, Trump said his administration was working with those who had just been sworn in, adding that the U.S. was effectively in charge.

Earlier, Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez called for building a “balanced and respectful” relationship with the United States. Her appeal came after U.S. forces carried out an attack in Caracas that led to the capture of leftist leader Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez emphasized that establishing a respectful partnership between the two nations was a priority.

The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between Washington and Caracas following the U.S. military action and leadership transition in Venezuela, with both sides signaling sharply different approaches to future relations.

The European Union has called on all sides to remain calm and avoid further escalation following a US operation in Venezuela. In a statement posted on social media platform X, EU foreign and security policy representative Kaja Kallas urged restraint and emphasized the need for peace amid rising tensions.

The statement reaffirmed the EU’s support for the Venezuelan people’s right to determine their own future. It stressed that reflecting the will of the people is the only path to resolving the current crisis and restoring democracy in the country.

According to the report, the United States detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife at midnight on Friday. Maduro, accused of drug trafficking and terrorism, is being held in a New York prison and is expected to appear in court on Monday.