Caracas [Venezuela], January 16 (ANI): Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday stated that the US had invaded and kidnapped its former President Nicolas Maduro and the First Lady, Cilian Flores, calling the operation a 'stain on relations' between the two countries and saying it must be resolved through diplomacy.

Addressing the National Assembly in her first major annual speech since assuming leadership, Rodriguez said the US military operation that resulted in Maduro's capture and transfer to the United States has damaged bilateral ties.

'They invaded and kidnapped President Maduro and the First Lady. It is a stain on the relations between the United States and Venezuela, and we said that we were going to resolve that stain diplomatically,' she was quoted as saying by media house, El Cooperante.

Rodriguez, who was also presenting the country's 2025 annual report, also called for national unity to confront external pressure and reiterated Venezuela's readiness to engage with the United States through political dialogue, despite acknowledging Washington's global power.

'Venezuela is under threat and, for that reason, I call for national unity so that we can wage the diplomatic battle. And I say to you: if the day ever comes when it falls to me, as interim president, to go to Washington, I will do so standing tall, walking, not dragged there,' she stated.

In her address, Rodriguez highlighted the current government's 2026 strategic plan, aimed at preserving the people's aspirations amid ongoing political and economic tensions with the United States. She also called for unity to wage what she described as a 'diplomatic battle'.

Rodriguez also pointed to economic progress, saying Venezuela achieved 8.5 per cent growth in 2025 and reported daily oil production of 1.2 million barrels in December, underscoring targets for economic resilience, as reported by El Cooperante.

Her remarks come almost two weeks after the US launched strikes on Venezuela's capital, Caracas and captured Maduro.

On January 3, the US launched a 'large-scale strike' in the South American country, which led to the capture of its leader, Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Maduro and Flores were flown out of the country in a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and US law enforcement. They were indicted on charges of alleged 'drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies' in the Southern District of New York and are currently facing trial. (ANI)