Delcy Rodriguez Rejects Trump’s Proposal to Annex Venezuela as 51st US State

Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodríguez firmly rejected US President Donald Trump’s suggestion of annexing Venezuela as the 51st US state during a press statement in The Hague on May 11, 2026. Trump had previously cited Venezuela’s $40 trillion oil reserves and alleged local affection for him as justification for the idea. Rodríguez countered that Venezuelans value their independence and history, emphasizing that future relations should focus on energy cooperation and diplomatic understanding rather than colonization. This diplomatic clash occurs against the backdrop of a January 2026 US military operation against the former Maduro regime and a new three-phase transition plan presented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The plan includes crude-output stabilization, a $100 billion economic recovery investment, and democratic elections by the end of 2026. Rodríguez made her remarks while attending hearings at the International Court of Justice regarding the Essequibo territorial dispute with Guyana, framing her rejection as a defense of national sovereignty and historical integrity.