Delcy Rodríguez delivers State of the Union in Caracas, backs opening oil fields

Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s interim leader, delivered her first State of the Union address before the National Assembly in Caracas on Thursday, blending the anti‑imperialist rhetoric of predecessors with moves that she framed as aligning with President Trump’s agenda. In the roughly 40‑minute speech Ms.

Rodríguez echoed fiery language and said she had co‑written the address with Nicolás Maduro hours before he was captured by U.S. commandos. She launched a verbal offensive against the United States, called on attendants to honor “all the heroes and heroines who died in combat” against the United States and said the capture of Mr.

Maduro and his wife had crossed a line: “They attacked, assaulted, killed, invaded and kidnapped President Maduro and the first lady.” She also said, “Let us not be afraid of diplomacy.” At the same time she announced she was opening Venezuela’s oil fields and releasing political prisoners — measures the speech linked to the U.S.

agenda. A slide she presented said the country reached 1.168 million barrels per day in December and achieved zero fuel imports last year. The speech’s claims, the article says, appear disputed by conditions on the ground: a Gallup survey showed three in five Venezuelans struggled to afford food last year, about 90 percent live in poverty according to independent watchdogs, and recent reports indicate a sharp decline in oil production because of infrastructure decay and a U.S.

Key Topics

World, Delcy Rodríguez, Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela, National Assembly, Oil Production