Venezuela’s acting president has issued a public appeal for peace and renewed dialogue with the United States (US), following the dramatic capture of President Nicolás Maduro by US forces earlier this month.

The appeal comes days after a US military operation removed Maduro from Venezuela and transferred him to New York to face charges linked to drug trafficking and organised crime. Washington justified the operation citing long-standing allegations that the Maduro government functioned as a criminal enterprise.

In a message posted on social media, Delcy Rodríguez, the former vice president and now acting president, said “Venezuela reaffirms its commitment to peace and peaceful coexistence. Our country aspires to live without external threats, in an environment of respect and international cooperation. We believe that global peace is built by first guaranteeing peace within each nation.

“We prioritise moving towards balanced and respectful international relations between the United States and Venezuela, and between Venezuela and other countries in the region, premised on sovereign equality and non-interference. These principles guide our diplomacy with the rest of the world.

“We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence.

“President Donald Trump, our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war. This has always been President Nicolás Maduro’s message, and it is the message of all of Venezuela right now. This is the Venezuela I believe in and have dedicated my life to. I dream of a Venezuela where all good Venezuelans can come together.

Venezuela has the right to peace, development, sovereignty and a future.”

The statement marked the first formal response from Venezuela’s interim leadership since Maduro’s removal.

People with knowledge of the interactions between Rodríguez and the Trump administration, told The Common Sense that they were cautiously optimistic that Rodríguez was prepared to take a pragmatic approach with Washington and work with the US to rebuild Venezuela's economy.

A number of global figures have welcomed the arrest of Maduro, including the leaders of Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, the European Union, and Israel amongst others.

On Monday, in an editorial The Common Sense welcomed the actions against Maduro as a step towards global peace and stability.