Trump Praises Venezuela's Interim President Following Direct Call
In a significant political development, a phone call described as "warm and productive" has marked the beginning of a new phase in U.S.-Venezuela relations. President Donald Trump and interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez exchanged compliments and respect during their first direct contact since the ousting and arrest of former President Nicolás Maduro.
Rodríguez, who assumed the interim presidency in early January, characterized her conversation with Trump as "long, productive, and courteous," confirming via a post on the messaging app Telegram that it took place "in a framework of mutual respect," as reported by France Presse.
This call occurred shortly after an unprecedented event—the arrest of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces on January 3, followed by his transfer to the United States to face drug trafficking charges.
Maduro and his wife are currently held in a federal prison in Brooklyn after appearing in a U.S. court last week, where they pleaded not guilty to all charges. A subsequent hearing is scheduled for March 17.
Trump expressed satisfaction with the tone of the call, stating to reporters from the Oval Office that he had a "long and excellent" conversation with Rodríguez, calling her "a wonderful person." He added, "We discussed many topics, and I believe we understand each other well regarding Venezuela."
Earlier on Wednesday, Rodríguez confirmed that her country anticipates a "new political era," indicating the interim government's desire to redefine Venezuela's foreign relations, particularly with the United States, following years of tensions and sanctions.
The unusually positive tone of the call has been viewed by observers as an early indication of a potential shift in the trajectory of U.S.-Venezuela relations amid significant internal changes in Caracas and a heavy legal burden facing its former president in Washington.
