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The Trump administration is demanding that Venezuela’s interim leader take several pro-U.S. actions that her predecessor refused if she wants to avoid a similar fate, Politico reported citing a U.S. official and a person familiar with the administration’s internal discussions.
According to the report, U.S. officials have told Delcy Rodriguez that they want to see at least three moves from her: “cracking down on drug flows; kicking out Iranian, Cuban and other operatives of countries or networks hostile to Washington; and stopping the sale of oil to U.S. adversaries.”
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of Venezuela by U.S. special forces after the U.S. carried out large-scale strikes. Maduro is in a New York detention center awaiting trial on drug charges.
Maduro has been accused by U.S. authorities of leading a drug cartel and smuggling narcotics into the United States.
Top officials in Maduro's government are still in charge and have called the detentions of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores a kidnapping. U.S. President Donald Trump earlier said that the U.S. would temporarily “run” Venezuela.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez — who also serves as oil minister — has taken over as interim leader. Trump's administration has described Maduro's capture as a law-enforcement mission to force him to face U.S. criminal charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy. Maduro has denied criminal involvement.
According to Politico, the U.S. officials also expect Rodriguez to eventually facilitate free elections and step aside.
The Trump team is confident Rodriguez will do its bidding despite being a longtime ally of Maduro. If not, she faces significant military action, Trump has warned.
“Venezuela, thus far, has been very nice. But it helps to have a force like we have,” Trump told reporters Sunday on Air Force One. “If they don’t behave, we will do a second strike.” Washington earlier said that it expects to see more cooperation from Rodriguez than it did from Maduro.