'It was always about oil,' Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez rejects US allegations

Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has rejected US allegations on narcotics trafficking, democratic backsliding and human rights, calling them fabricated claims driven by what she described as Washington’s “energy greed”.

Speaking during a live broadcast on state-run television channel VTV, Rodríguez said the pressure on Venezuela had little to do with governance or crime. She argued that the real objective was access to the country’s vast energy resources, with accusations around drugs, democracy and human rights being used as convenient pretexts.

On the question of bilateral energy ties, Rodríguez said Venezuela remained open to partnerships that were transparent and mutually beneficial. Any cooperation, she stressed, should be clearly defined through commercial agreements that respect national interests and ensure gains for all parties involved.

At the same time, she acknowledged that relations between the two countries were at an unprecedented low. Addressing members of the National Assembly, Rodríguez said the strain in ties had left a lasting mark, unlike anything seen in Venezuela’s diplomatic history.

She also announced plans to introduce a new bill aimed at ensuring political and economic stability, urging different political groups to work together to heal internal divisions. Warning against extremist tendencies, she said radical social, political or economic forces could not be allowed to destabilise the republic, adding that programmes promoting peace and national coexistence were essential.

Her comments came just hours after US President Donald Trump said Venezuela would use revenue from a new oil agreement to purchase goods exclusively from the United States. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the funds would be spent on American agricultural products, medicines, medical equipment and infrastructure supplies for Venezuela’s power and energy sectors.

Trump described Venezuela’s move as a commitment to making the US its primary commercial partner, calling the arrangement a smart and mutually beneficial decision.