President Donald Trump issued a stern ultimatum on Sunday to Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, warning she will pay a “very big price” if she fails to cooperate with the United States following the military capture of former president Nicolas Maduro.
“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 brief telephone interview.
The warning follows a dramatic escalation in U.S. intervention. In the early hours of Saturday, U.S. forces conducted a series of strikes on military targets in Caracas before seizing Maduro and his wife. The couple was subsequently transported to New York to face federal narcotrafficking charges.
The Trump administration has signaled a willingness to work with the remaining elements of the Venezuelan government, provided Washington’s strategic goals are met. Chief among these objectives is securing access for U.S. investment in Venezuela’s massive crude oil reserves, the largest in the world.
Trump’s comments came shortly after Rodriguez was confirmed as interim president by Venezuela’s Supreme Court and high-ranking military officials. Despite the U.S. presence, Rodriguez maintained a defiant posture on Saturday, labeling Maduro the nation’s “sole legitimate leader” and vowing to protect Venezuela’s sovereignty.
“We’re ready to defend our natural resources,” Rodriguez said in a televised address following the raid.
The current intervention marks a significant shift for the 79-year-old Republican president, who has long campaigned on a platform of ending “forever wars” and avoiding foreign regime change. However, Trump appeared to pivot on Saturday, suggesting a more hands-on role for the U.S. in the South American nation.
“Rebuilding there and regime change—anything you want to call it—is better than what you have right now,” Trump told *The Atlantic*. “Rebuilding is not a bad thing in Venezuela’s case. The country’s gone to hell. It’s a failed country… a disaster in every way.”
When asked if the United States intended to manage the country directly, Trump replied that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela for the foreseeable future.
The President also used the interview to revive his long-standing interest in acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. When asked if the military action in Caracas served as a signal to the NATO ally regarding Greenland, Trump remained cryptic.
“They are going to have to view it themselves. I really don’t know,” Trump said. “But we do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense.”
AFP
