Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has reiterated comments made over the weekend that her country "does not take orders from any external actor," saying the government answers only to the Venezuelan people.
Her remarks Monday followed recent statements by U.S. officials about Venezuela's political and economic direction after the Jan. 3 U.S. military operation that captured former president Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
Rodríguez spoke during a public consultation on a partial reform of Venezuela's Organic Hydrocarbons Law, according to local newspaper Últimas Noticias. She was responding to comments by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who suggested Washington could influence decisions by the Venezuelan executive branch and the timing of possible elections.
"The U.S. Treasury secretary has made statements that are inappropriate and offensive, and I have to respond to them," Rodríguez said. "The people of Venezuela do not accept orders from any external actor. The people of Venezuela have a government and that government obeys the people."
Her comments came shortly after Bessent said leaders of Venezuela's executive branch would follow orders from President Donald Trump's administration.
