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Venezuela's interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, has expressed a willingness to collaborate with the United States, marking a shift from the confrontational posture she initially displayed after the capture of former dictator Nicolás Maduro.

A Statement of Cooperation

In a message issued Sunday night, Rodríguez stated she had "invited the American administration to cooperate on an framework of cooperation."

Her remarks followed just hours after ex-President Donald Trump warned that Rodríguez could "face severe consequences, probably more severe than Maduro" if she failed to comply with his demands.

Leadership Shift in the Country

Rodríguez has assumed de facto control of Venezuela since Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained over the weekend. The pair were taken to New York and are scheduled for an appearance at a U.S. court in Manhattan.

She was sworn in as president by the constitutional tribunal on Saturday. The following day, the military leadership agreed to recognise her authority, while simultaneously calling for the prompt liberation of Maduro and his wife.

The Former President's Comments and Strategy

Following the surprising apprehension of Maduro, Trump stated that the United States would now "manage" Venezuela "until such time as we can execute a orderly and lawful transition." He also added that communication had been established with Rodríguez.

On Sunday, he warned that the US might launch a further action if remaining members of the administration do not cooperate with his plans to get the country "fixed."

Trump's actions have entirely sidelined the country's democratic opposition, headed by Nobel prizewinner María Corina Machado. This strategy has been broadly condemned by analysts who contend that the regime's power structure remains mostly unchanged – just without Maduro at its head.

Rodríguez's Evolving Posture

In her initial address after Maduro's detention, Rodríguez initially struck a defiant tone, proclaiming that Venezuela would "never again be anyone's colony."

However, on Sunday night, after chairing her first cabinet meeting, she struck a significantly more conciliatory tone. Rodríguez released a message stating she considered a "stable and mutual relationship" with the United States to be a priority.

"We extend an invitation the United States government to collaborate on an agenda of cooperation, focused on mutual progress, within the confines of global norms, and that promotes enduring peace," she added.

A Direct Address to Trump

Addressing the American ex-president directly, she said: "President Donald Trump: our nations and our region are entitled to peace and dialogue, not war. That has always been President Nicolás Maduro’s belief and it is that of the entire nation at this moment."

"This nation I believe in and to which I have dedicated my life. My aspiration is for Venezuela to become a significant nation where all patriotic Venezuelans can unite. Venezuela has the inherent right to sovereignty, development, peace, and a prosperous future," she added.

Contrasting Signals

Alongside the cooperative language, the Venezuelan government – and Rodríguez herself, via her official channel – later honored several dozen "Cuban combatants" who were part of Maduro’s personal security and who died "due to the unlawful and reprehensible attack carried out by the United States."

Earlier on Sunday, the defence minister, Gen Vladímir Padrino López, had said in a statement that US troops had "summarily executed much of [Maduro’s] security detail, military personnel and non-combatants," without providing names or a death toll.