In a massive rally outside the headquarters of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) in La Campiña, Caracas, Venezuelan Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded over $35 billion in reparations from the United States government for what she described as the theft and plundering of CITGO and the illegal withholding of its dividends since 2019.

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“Washington owes the Bolivarian people,” stated Rodríguez, who also serves as Minister of Hydrocarbons. She denounced the dispossession of national assets abroad as a form of “economic piracy” that has had serious consequences for the stability of Venezuelan citizens.

During her speech, the Vice President categorically rejected any negotiations regarding Venezuelan hydrocarbons conducted under pressure or threats. “The nation’s hydrocarbons are not subject to negotiation under threats or foreign extortion schemes,” she said, specifying that any acquisition of oil or gas by international actors must be carried out under legal protocols and with the corresponding payment.

Rodríguez urged the U.S. government to conduct a “realistic assessment” of the impact of the economic blockade and unilateral sanctions imposed on Venezuela. She also demanded a public apology and “reparation for damages” for the effects of these coercive measures, which, she stated, seek to strangle the national economy.

The vice president emphasized that the defense of Venezuelan oil is part of a broader struggle for self-determination, sovereignty, and regional peace. She highlighted the role of workers in the hydrocarbon sector, whom she described as “aware and mobilized,” and reiterated her support for President Nicolás Maduro.

“National unity is the main shield against attempts to seize our energy resources,” Rodríguez stated, while describing Washington’s strategy of encirclement as an “absolute historical error.” She concluded his remarks by assuring that Venezuela will continue its economic recovery without yielding to “imperialist blackmail” and will deliver a nation free from tutelage, with full respect for its energy sovereignty.

According to a recent poll cited at the event, 97% of Venezuelans oppose foreign appropriation of the country’s resources, which reinforces popular support for the government’s stance against external pressures.

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