In a surprising turn of events, the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces has led to an unexpected power struggle in the South American nation. While the US and its allies had recognised opposition leader Edmundo González as the rightful president, the Trump administration has now turned to Maduro’s Vice-President, Delcy Rodríguez, as a potential partner in governing Venezuela.
In his post-operation news conference, President Trump announced that the US would “run” Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition”. He further revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been in talks with Rodríguez, who Trump claimed was “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again”.
However, Rodríguez’s own statements have painted a more defiant picture. She denounced Maduro’s detention as a “kidnapping” and insisted that “there is only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicolás Maduro”. Rodríguez also vowed that Venezuela would “never again be a colony of any empire”, suggesting a refusal to simply acquiesce to US demands.
The conflicting messages have left many observers puzzled about the true balance of power in Venezuela. Under the country’s constitution, the vice-president is meant to assume the presidency if the incumbent is absent. Yet the US and its allies had previously rejected Maduro’s legitimacy, instead recognising González as the rightful president-elect.
Rubio has indicated that the US is prepared to exert “multiple levers of leverage” to ensure its interests are protected, including the oil embargo currently in place. He has also hinted that fresh elections may be necessary, a prospect that is likely to disappoint opposition figures like María Corina Machado, who had been hoping to immediately take power.
The situation remains highly fluid, with Rodríguez seemingly caught between accommodating Trump’s demands and maintaining the support of Maduro’s core base. Her ability to navigate this delicate balance will be crucial in determining Venezuela’s immediate future and the extent of US influence in the country.