Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez has started to soften her stance towards Washington, inviting the US to "work together on an agenda of cooperation" a day after denouncing the American military operation that resulted in Nicolás Maduro's capture.

The conciliatory shift, which follows threats from President Donald Trump that she would "pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro" if she failed to co-operate, has further fuelled speculation that the 56-year-old lawyer has struck a behind-the-scenes deal with the Trump administration.

Rodríguez, who assumed power after Venezuela's Supreme Court invoked constitutional provisions for temporary presidential succession, pivoted sharply from her initial response to the January 3 raid on Caracas. Having condemned the operation as an "atrocity that violates international law" whilst labelling the Trump government "extremists", she struck a markedly different tone on January 4.

"We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law," Rodríguez wrote on Instagram. "President Donald Trump: our people and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war."

Trump had previously disclosed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio established contact with Rodríguez, describing her as "gracious". Rubio indicated the administration viewed her as a potential partner for negotiations, distinguishing her from Maduro.

At her first cabinet meeting on January 4, Rodríguez established a commission to ostensibly manage the deposed president's release, headed by National Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez – her brother – and including Foreign Minister Yván Gil. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, suggesting the military and security apparatus remain aligned for now with her interim government. But it remains unclear if the two ministers, whom analysts describe as hard-line Chavistas, will fall in line should Rodríguez begin cooperating with Washington.

Trump has long made clear his intentions regarding Venezuela's oil sector. With proven reserves estimated at 303bn barrels – the world's largest – the country's crude industry has suffered precipitous decline. Daily production now stands at just 1.1m barrels, representing roughly one-third of the output Venezuela achieved during the sector's peak years in the 1970s. Decades of inadequate investment, poor management practices, widespread corruption and trade restrictions imposed by Western governments have contributed to the deterioration. In remarks on January 4, Trump said his administration would recover resources taken through previous nationalisations. American petroleum companies would return to operate in Venezuela, he stated, before adding: "We're in charge."

Washington has indicated it may engage with the current Venezuelan leadership, still dominated by Chavista loyals, on condition its priorities are addressed, particularly regarding American corporate access to the country's energy sector. Trump has insisted Rodríguez must grant "total access" to petroleum infrastructure and other facilities requiring reconstruction.

However, the precise details of any potential arrangement remain murky, as does the future of Venezuela's opposition, which had anticipated playing a central role following Maduro's removal.

Throughout her career, Rodríguez has held various cabinet positions spanning economic policy, diplomatic relations and energy matters. During this period, she cultivated relationships with US executives active in oil investment and financial services. Rodríguez has not been criminally indicted by US authorities, setting her apart from numerous figures in Maduro's government, though Washington imposed sanctions on her during Trump's first term for actions deemed harmful to democratic processes in Venezuela.

Venezuelan constitutional law mandates snap elections within one month should the presidency become "permanently unavailable". The Supreme Court, however, determined Maduro's situation constitutes a "temporary" absence, a classification that permits Rodríguez to govern initially for 90 days. Parliament may subsequently approve an extension to half a year. Notably, the justices' ruling omitted any reference to these temporal constraints.

Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were brought before a federal courthouse in Manhattan on January 5 on charges including narco-terrorism and facilitating drug trafficking. The 63-year-old former bus driver and trade unionist, who took office in 2013 following Hugo Chávez's death, stands accused of directing an international cocaine distribution operation involving collaboration with Mexican criminal syndicates, Colombian insurgent groups and Venezuelan organised crime networks.

A UN Security Council session was convened for January 5 to examine the legal dimensions of Washington's operation. Moscow, Beijing and other governments ideologically aligned with Caracas have issued condemnations of the incursion. By contrast, nations traditionally allied with the US have responded more cautiously, calling for dialogue and respect for established legal frameworks.