CARACAS, May 12 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Monday ruled out the possibility of the South American country ever becoming the 51st state of the United States, Sputnik/RIA Novosti reported.
"It is out of the question and it never will be, because if there is one thing Venezuelans have, it is love for our independence process. We will continue to defend our integrity, sovereignty, and independence," Rodriguez told reporters after leaving the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Fox News reported on Monday, citing a phone interview with Donald Trump, that the US president was seriously considering making Venezuela part of the US.
"President Trump knows we are working on a diplomatic agenda of cooperation, and that is how we see our path," Rodriguez said.
Trump jokingly alluded to making Venezuela the 51st state of the US when he congratulated Venezuela's national baseball team on defeating Italy in the World Baseball Classic semifinal in March. He attributed the win to Caracas's cooperation with Washington.
The US and Venezuela began restoring diplomatic relations following Washington's airstrike on Caracas in early January to capture President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Trump also announced his intention to take control of Venezuelan oil.
--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI
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