A member of "3 Raices," a pro-government group known as a "Colectivo," stands guard with an assault rifle at the organization's headquarters in the working-class 23 de Enero neighborhood in Caracas, on Jan. 7, 2026. (Credit: Pedro Mattey/ AFP) A member of "3 Raices," a pro-government group known as a "Colectivo," stands guard with an assault rifle at the organization's headquarters in the working-class 23 de Enero neighborhood in Caracas, on January 7, 2026. Photo Pedro MATTEY / AFP
Venezuela will choose the “diplomatic path” in response to U.S. “criminal aggression,” acting President Delcy Rodríguez said Friday in a statement.
Rodríguez spoke during an online meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, denouncing what she called the “serious, criminal, illegal and illegitimate aggression committed against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela” on Jan. 3, when U.S. bombings preceded the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
“I reaffirmed that Venezuela will continue to face this aggression through diplomatic means,” she added, shortly after both Washington and Caracas announced their willingness to restore diplomatic ties.
Rodríguez said she shared a common viewpoint with the visiting leaders on “advancing an expanded bilateral cooperation program” founded on respect for sovereignty and dialogue.
In a separate statement, the acting president also thanked the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al‑Thani, for his “willingness to help develop a dialogue program between the United States and Venezuela” based on respect and international law.
Qatar has for years acted as a mediator in negotiations between Venezuela and the United States, and after Jan. 3 again offered its services, calling for differences to be “resolved through dialogue.”
