"Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday rejected remarks by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who claimed from Oslo that the country has been invaded by drug cartels. Speaking during an extraordinary parliamentary session in Caracas, Rodriguez accused Machado, recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, of harbouring 'hatred' towards residents of working-class neighbourhoods, which he said explains her statements abroad. He went on to describe her as a 'genocidal figure', alleging that she has encouraged foreign military action against Venezuela after 'bending the knee' to the United States. Rodriguez also condemned comments made the same day by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who claimed that the United States created Venezuela’s oil industry. In response, the Assembly President cited Articles 12 and 13 of Venezuela’s Constitution, which affirm that mineral and hydrocarbon resources located within national territory are the exclusive property of the Venezuelan state. “It is absolutely outrageous that we have to say that today, more than ever, the land of Venezuela belongs to Venezuelan women and Venezuelan men,” Rodriguez said. “Today more than ever we are ready to defend our land.” Stephen Miller made his remarks in a post on the social media platform X, stating that “American sweat, ingenuity and labour created Venezuela’s oil industry.” The comments came after US President Donald Trump ordered a 'blockade' of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan territory, further escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas."