Rodríguez named interim president after US strike captures Maduro

Venezuela has entered a new and uncertain chapter after Interim President Delcy Rodríguez assumed the country’s top office following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a large-scale US military operation announced on Saturday.
The Venezuelan Supreme Court issued a ruling instructing Rodríguez to “assume and exercise, in an acting capacity, all the attributes, duties and powers inherent to the office of President… to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the nation.” The decision has been backed by judicial and political institutions, consolidating Rodríguez’s authority in the wake of Maduro’s removal.
Rodríguez, who has risen in prominence since Maduro took office in 2013, is joined by her brother Jorge Rodríguez, now head of Congress, and veteran power broker Diosdado Cabello, a former army captain closely associated with the late Hugo Chávez.
Together, they have denounced Maduro’s “kidnapping” and pledged to preserve the political structures that have defined Venezuela over the past decade.
Behind the civilian leadership, however, the military remains the decisive force. Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Padrino continues to wield enormous influence, with the armed forces entrenched across political, economic, and social spheres.
Analysts note that the military’s dominance has steadily expanded over the last decade, and there is little indication of change under the interim government.
Internationally, US President Donald Trump declared that Washington is “in charge of the situation in Venezuela,” announcing the success of Operation Absolute Resolve on social media.
Reports suggest that negotiations over oil-extraction concessions may already be underway between US officials and Rodríguez, though on the ground, the Venezuelan military continues to exercise control.
Complicating the landscape further are illegal armed groups, particularly Colombian guerrillas such as the ELN, which have consolidated territorial control and drug-trafficking routes in recent years.
Observers warn that the struggle among these groups for dominance is likely to intensify amid the political upheaval.
For Venezuelans, the question of who truly holds power remains unresolved. While Rodríguez has formally assumed the presidency, the interplay between political institutions, military leadership, and armed groups underscores the fragmented nature of authority in the country. The government has called the US strike an “imperialist attack” and urged citizens to mobilize in defense of national sovereignty, setting the stage for heightened tensions both domestically and internationally.