Ms. Rodriguez spoke at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on May 11 - the last day of hearings in the dispute between Venezuela and neighboring Guyana over the resource-rich and oil-rich Essequibo region.
We will continue to protect our territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence and history," Rodriguez added, emphasizing that Venezuela "is not a colony, but a free nation.
Earlier the same day, in an interview with Fox News, President Donald Trump said that he was "sERIOUSLY considering turning Venezuela into the 51st US state".
Mr. Trump has made similar comments about Canada.
Ms. Rodriguez also added that Venezuelan and US officials have contacted and are making efforts to "cooperate and understand each other".
Before mentioning Mr. Trump's comments, Ms. Rodriguez defended Venezuela's sovereignty claim over Essequibo in the highest court of the United Nations, telling judges that political negotiations - not court rulings - would resolve centuries-long territorial disputes.
The territory is 160,000 km2 - equivalent to nearly 2/3 of Guyana's area - rich in gold, diamonds, wood and many other natural resources. This area is also located near giant offshore oil fields currently exploiting an average of about 900,000 barrels/day.
This output is almost equal to Venezuela's daily oil production, about 1 million barrels/day, and has turned one of the smallest countries in South America into an important energy producer.
Venezuela has considered Essequibo part of its country since the Spanish colonial period, when this jungle area was within its territory. However, the 1899 ruling of arbitrators from Britain, Russia and the United States drew up the border along the Essequibo River largely in favor of Guyana.
Venezuela argues that the 1966 agreement signed in Geneva to resolve the dispute invalidated the 19th-century arbitration ruling. However, in 2018, 3 years after ExxonMobil announced the discovery of a large oil field off the coast of Essequibo, the Guyana government sued the International Court of Justice and asked the judges to uphold the 1899 ruling.
The court may need months to make a final and legally binding ruling in this case. Venezuela noted that participating in hearings does not mean that it agrees or recognizes the jurisdiction of the court.
