She further emphasized that Maduro remains Venezuela’s “only president,” further describing the U.S. actions as a “kidnapping” and “barbaric.”
Venezuela’s leadership command structure is outlined in its constitution, which stipulates that the vice president assumes executive duties during a president’s temporary absence, without triggering new elections unless the absence is deemed permanent. Rodríguez has been sworn in as interim president in a secret ceremony, but she continues to assert Maduro’s legitimacy, according to a report from the New York Times.
Other key figures, such as Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and National Assembly head Jorge Rodríguez (Delcy’s brother), remain in Caracas and have appeared on state media calling for resistance and activation of defense protocols. The military and security forces, historically loyal to the regime, appear largely intact, though U.S. forces overwhelmed Venezuelan defenses during the operation and were able to execute the raid without any fatalities or downed aircraft.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez meets with the Russian government in September 2024
Cuba’s influence on Venezuela’s government and security forces is substantial. The communist nation provides intelligence, military advisors, and security personnel to support the Venezuelan regime, with several operatives embedded within the army and internal security services.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has highlighted this dynamic, stating that Cuban officials should be “concerned” following Maduro’s capture, given the ties between the two nations.
In return, Venezuela provides Cuba with subsidized oil, which has largely been halted thanks to the U.S. blockade of sanctioned oil tankers leaving Venezuela. Analysts have noted that the loss of Venezuelan oil — which is expected to continue — could prove catastrophic for the Cuban regime.
President Donald Trump has stated that the United States will be “running” Venezuela while an interim government is set up. The president did not fully outline what this would entail, but he did promise to revitalize the nation’s oil industry and did not rule out the possibility of “boots on the ground” in some capacity.