Caracas, January 8: Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez said Wednesday that relations with the United States have suffered an unprecedented “stain,” while emphasizing that the country will continue pursuing a diversified economic strategy engaging major markets across all continents, according to El Cooperante.
Speaking during a live broadcast on state television VTV, Rodriguez described US policy toward Venezuela as one of “exclusion” but stressed that economic and trade ties between the two nations are neither extraordinary nor irregular. She noted that 71 percent of Venezuelan exports are concentrated in eight countries, with 25 percent destined for the United States, and emphasized that Venezuela’s economic relations are diversified globally.
Rodriguez said both the public and private sectors would have access to international markets, highlighting Venezuela’s openness to cooperation. “Products made in Venezuela will be our greatest ambassador, carrying the message that we have not given up. Our hands are open for collaboration and cooperation,” she said.
She also announced plans to introduce legislation on socioeconomic rights aimed at regulating price formation to prevent speculation, along with reforms to the National Electric Service Law. Rodriguez said the administration has made progress in recovering the electrical system and will develop a law promoting the rational use of energy to ensure citizens’ well-being.
Addressing energy relations, Rodriguez rejected allegations of narcotics trafficking, saying external pressure is motivated by resource interests. “The whole drug trafficking thing was just an excuse; what they’ve always wanted are the resources. We’re open to energy relationships where all parties benefit, with cooperation clearly defined in a commercial agreement,” she added.
Rodriguez further announced a forthcoming bill to ensure national stability and called on all political forces to work together to address internal divisions. She stressed that extremist social, political, and economic expressions must be prevented to safeguard the Republic, advocating programs for peace and national coexistence.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s National Assembly began a new legislative period, outlining six priority areas for the year. National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said Parliament would continue defending the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peace. Lawmakers plan to focus on peace consolidation, economic growth, strengthening popular power initiatives, expanding new economic models, protecting citizens’ lives, and reorganizing the legislative framework.
As part of legislative reforms, the Assembly intends to consolidate laws into eight major legal codes, including a new popular penal code, commercial code, civil code, ecological and environmental code, code for the protection of vulnerable populations, code for direct democracy, and an electoral code.
Addressing the Assembly, interim President Delcy Rodriguez welcomed both government and opposition lawmakers, urging reconciliation. She criticized the 2015 National Assembly for contributing to previous acts of aggression and called for unity to guide Venezuela toward development, peace, and stability. Rodriguez said her administration’s focus is on expanding productive capacity rather than preserving elite interests and announced plans for legislation regulating exports and imports to support domestic production.
Her remarks came hours after US President Donald Trump said Venezuela would use revenue from a new oil agreement to purchase goods made exclusively in the United States. Trump wrote on Truth Social that these purchases would include US agricultural products, medicines, medical devices, and equipment to improve Venezuela’s electrical grid and energy facilities, calling the move a “wise and very beneficial” decision for both countries.
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