Former United States President Donald Trump has issued a direct and severe warning to Venezuela's Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, stating she will face major consequences if she fails to act correctly regarding the country's upcoming presidential election. This warning escalates the already tense political standoff between the US and the Venezuelan government led by Nicolás Maduro.
Trump's Direct Threat and the Election Context
The warning from Trump came via his social media platform, Truth Social, on a recent Sunday. In his characteristically blunt style, the former president and current Republican candidate declared that Rodríguez would "pay a big price" if she does not "do what's right." While not explicitly detailed, the message is widely interpreted as a demand to ensure a free and fair electoral process in the July 28 presidential vote, where Maduro is seeking re-election.
This intervention is significant as it marks a clear re-engagement of Trump, a pivotal figure in US politics, into the volatile situation in Venezuela. His administration had previously imposed crippling sanctions on the South American nation's oil industry, aiming to oust Maduro. The current warning signals a potential return to a more aggressive US posture should he win the upcoming November election.
Venezuela's Defiant Response and Internal Crackdown
The Venezuelan government, through its communication apparatus, swiftly and defiantly rejected Trump's warning. Officials labeled the statement as "rude and improper" and an act of "blackmail" against a sovereign nation. They framed it as part of a continued imperialist campaign by the United States to destabilize their country.
This external warning coincides with a period of intense internal political pressure within Venezuela. The main opposition candidate, María Corina Machado, remains barred from holding public office. Her designated substitute, prominent academic Corina Yoris, was also blocked from registering as a candidate, a move condemned internationally as undermining democratic principles.
Furthermore, in a concerning development for opposition forces, several campaign staffers working for Machado's replacement candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, were reportedly detained. These actions have raised serious alarms about the fairness and transparency of the electoral environment leading up to the July vote.
Broader Implications for US-Venezuela Relations
Trump's public threat is not an isolated incident but a flashpoint in the long-standing adversarial relationship. His warning serves as a stark reminder of the potential policy shift awaiting Venezuela depending on the outcome of the US presidential election in November. A Trump victory could signal a return to the "maximum pressure" campaign of sanctions and isolation.
Conversely, the Biden administration had engaged in a cautious diplomatic thaw, temporarily easing some oil sanctions in late 2023 after the Maduro government and the opposition agreed to electoral guarantees. However, with the recent crackdown on opposition figures, the US has begun reinstating some of those restrictions, stating that Venezuela is not fulfilling its commitments under the Barbados agreement.
The situation presents a critical juncture for Venezuela. The international community, including major regional players and European nations, is closely monitoring whether the election will be conducted with genuine democratic standards. Trump's warning amplifies the high-stakes nature of the coming months, where the actions of key figures like Vice President Delcy Rodríguez could trigger significant geopolitical and economic repercussions for the crisis-stricken nation.
