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| Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez waves after bidding farewell to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright following their meeting at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File) |
Venezuela Rejects Trump’s ‘51st State’ Comment as Essequibo Tensions Grow
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez has strongly rejected comments made by US President Donald Trump about potentially making Venezuela the “51st US state.”
Speaking at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Rodríguez said Venezuela would continue defending its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
“Venezuela is not a colony, but a free country,” she said while responding to Trump’s remarks.
The comments came during final hearings over the long-running territorial dispute between Venezuela and neighboring Guyana regarding the oil-rich Essequibo region.
Rodríguez argued that political negotiations — not court rulings — should resolve the century-old dispute over Essequibo, a resource-rich territory containing major offshore oil reserves.
The region currently produces nearly 900,000 barrels of oil per day and has become one of the most strategically important energy zones in South America.
Trump reportedly told Fox News he was “seriously considering” making Venezuela the 51st US state, although the White House has not officially commented on the statement.