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The nation's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, has expressed a willingness to collaborate with the United States, dialing back from the defiant posture she first adopted after the capture of ousted leader Nicolás Maduro.

A Statement of Collaboration

In a statement issued Sunday night, Rodríguez declared she had "extended an invitation to the US government to cooperate on an framework of joint work."

Her remarks came just a short time after former President Donald Trump threatened that Rodríguez could "face severe consequences, probably more severe than Maduro" if she failed to comply with his demands.

Transition of Power in the Country

Rodríguez has effectively been running Venezuela since Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured over the weekend. The couple were taken to New York and are scheduled for an appearance at a federal court in Manhattan.

She was formally inaugurated as acting president by the supreme court on Saturday. The following day, the country's armed forces pledged to acknowledge her authority, while simultaneously calling for the immediate release of Maduro and his wife.

Trump's Statements and Strategy

Following the shocking capture of Maduro, Trump stated that the United States would now "manage" Venezuela "until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition." He also mentioned that contact had been made with Rodríguez.

On Sunday, he warned that the US might launch a second strike if remaining members of the administration fail to comply with his plans to get the country "fixed."

Trump's actions have effectively marginalized the nation's political opposition, lead by Nobel prizewinner María Corina Machado. This tactic has been broadly condemned by observers who contend that the regime's power structure remains mostly unchanged – just without Maduro at its head.

Rodríguez's Evolving Position

In her initial address after Maduro's capture, Rodríguez first adopted a stance of resistance, declaring that Venezuela would "never again be anyone's colony."

However, on Sunday night, after presiding over a government meeting, she adopted a markedly more conciliatory tone. Rodríguez issued a communication stating she considered a "stable and mutual relationship" with the United States to be a key objective.

"We invite the United States government to collaborate on an agenda of cooperation, aimed at mutual progress, within the framework of international law, and that strengthens enduring peace," she stated.

A Direct Appeal to Trump

Addressing the American ex-president directly, she wrote: "Mr. Trump: our peoples and our region are entitled to peace and dialogue, not war. That has consistently been President Nicolás Maduro’s conviction and it is that of all Venezuela at this moment."

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

Contrasting Signals

Despite the conciliatory tone, the Venezuelan government – and Rodríguez herself, via her social media channel – later honored 32 "Cuban security personnel" who were part of Maduro’s personal security and who perished "as a consequence of the criminal and infamous attack carried out by the US government."

Previously that day, the defence minister, Gen Vladímir Padrino López, had stated that US troops had "summarily executed much of [Maduro’s] security detail, soldiers and innocent civilians," without offering specific details or a confirmed count.