To the victor belong Venezuela’s spoils: Delcy Rodriguez’s UNGA about-face

Venezuela President Rodriguez Shifts Narrative at UN, Highlighting Contradictions in U.S. Policy

Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodriguez Addressing the United Nations, Unveiling Gaps in U.S. Assertion of Diplomatic Cooperation

At the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, Rodriguez took the stage to deliver a muted statement in which she publicly praised President Donald Trump for renewing “diplomatic relations and cooperation” with Venezuela.

This overt tone starkly contrasted with her remarks during the organization’s September 2019 session, when serving as Vice President under Nicolás Maduro denounced American policy as “economic terrorism,” accusing Washington of imposing restrictions “through banks and insurance companies” rather than weapons.

During her 2019 address, Rodriguez cited Venezuelan economic losses of $130 billion between 2015 and 2018 resulting from U.S.-imposed sanctions and urged moderation of military interventions abroad to prevent further destabilization.

She further contended that U.S. political institutions dominated by “plutocratic minorities” rendered the nation ill‑suited to export its governance model to other societies.

Approximately seven years later, under President Trump, the situation has seemingly reversed—Rodriguez appears beside him in photographs taken in New York within days of his leadership’s involvement in the 2019 military override of Maduro.

Although imprisoned since January, Maduro is slated for trial in New York in June 2027; yet his efforts to challenge extradition challenges highlight ongoing tensions regarding sovereignty and legal authority.

Historical records indicate the former president departed Venezuela alongside his spouse following U.S. air strikes on January 3, 2020, operations in which hundreds were killed.

On charges ranging from alleged leadership of the nonexistent “Cartel of the Suns” to conspiracy involving weaponry, Maduro has been accused of severe misconduct—charges that juxtapose sharply against the violent tactics his government historically employed against its own citizens.

Such disparity underscores a pattern of hypocrisy inherent in U.S. foreign policy.

Critics observe that diminished media attention toward Maduro functions as its own form of regime protection, inviting public amnesia about the reality of a captivated foreign leader held behind bars.

Nonetheless, Rodriguez benefits from this rhetorical pivot, positioning herself to advocate for the very resource extractions she once indicted.

Her remarks coincide with Trump’s recent General Assembly appearance, where he uttered the line “To the victor belong the spoils”—language interpreted by observers as equating victory with commercial acquisition.

While confronting these assertions, escalating U.S. provocations—such as claims of a “major oil deal” securing American majority control over Venezuelan hydrocarbon reserves—continue to galvanize demands for accountability.

Analysts caution that sustained propaganda and selective oversight facilitate continued impunity for aggressive external actors.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

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