Venezuela Affirms Right to Forge Ties with Iran, Other Nations: Remarks by Rodriguez

In an address on Thursday at the annual presentation of the executive’s performance to the Venezuelan Parliament, Rodriguez emphasized Venezuela’s sovereign right to independently determine its foreign policy course.

She stated, “We possess the sovereign right to establish diplomatic relations with China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, and all nations globally. We are a sovereign nation.”

Rodriguez denounced what she referred to as “invasive aggression” by the United States on January 3, labeling it “a stain on the relationship between the two nations.”

She emphasized that regardless of Washington’s antagonistic measures, her administration has opted for a diplomatic approach to address the crisis faced by Venezuela.

In what she termed the dawn of a “new political era,” Rodriguez dedicated much of her speech to paying tribute to Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following their abduction amid the US hostilities on January 3.

In the wake of the attack, she endeavored to bolster the morale of the revolutionary movement.

In a demonstration of allegiance to the fundamental tenets of Chavismo, the political movement initiated by Hugo Chavez, Rodriguez acknowledged Maduro’s contributions to the government’s efforts. “This work belongs to President Maduro,” she declared during the presentation of the official report on the executive’s performance.

Rodriguez vowed to persist in efforts to secure the release of Maduro and Flores, requesting “a minute of applause” in tribute to Cuban and Venezuelan soldiers who lost their lives in confrontations with American forces, characterizing their deaths as a result of Washington’s military interventions.

Both Rodriguez and her sibling, Jorge Rodriguez, the President of the National Assembly, adopted a measured approach towards the opposition.

They underscored the necessity for political coexistence and acknowledged their responsibility in enhancing the nation’s political atmosphere, despite mounting external pressures.

Simultaneously, Rodriguez cautioned the opposition against misconstruing limited initiatives or attempts to ease tensions as a sign of vulnerability.

She emphasized that extremist fascism would face zero tolerance and pledged that the state would take firm measures to counter it.

“The acting president stated that the issue is not personal fear due to threats, but rather that the entire nation of Venezuela is under threat. With sovereignty at risk, the nation is prepared to engage in a diplomatic struggle,” she declared.

Rodriguez issued a pointed critique of U.S. foreign policy, highlighting a historical pattern of manipulation, intervention, and economic exploitation throughout Latin America. She stated that Washington has persistently sought to undermine the region’s autonomy while extending its own influence.

In a statement, she highlighted that the Monroe Doctrine and the Bolivarian principles they support and protect are fundamentally opposing initiatives, describing them as antithetical.

In light of the recent discussions between Trump and opposition leader María Corina Machado, Rodriguez remarked that should Machado ever journey to Washington as the interim president, she would uphold her dignity, standing tall with the Venezuelan tricolor, and never succumb to subservience.