In a dramatic political transition, Venezuela’s National Assembly has sworn in Delcy Rodríguez as the nation’s interim president following the extraordinary capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. The ceremony, presided over by her brother and Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez, marks a significant turning point in the country’s political trajectory.
Rodríguez struck a notably conciliatory tone toward the United States during her inauguration, declaring Venezuela’s intention to establish “respectful relations” with the Trump administration. This represents a substantial diplomatic shift from the previously hostile stance maintained during Maduro’s nearly 13-year authoritarian rule.
The political transition unfolds against the backdrop of Maduro’s first appearance in a U.S. courtroom, where he pleaded not guilty to federal narcoterrorism and drug-trafficking charges. The former leader was captured Saturday in a military operation at his residence on a Venezuelan military base.
Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, made his first public appearance since the capture, delivering an impassioned address condemning what he characterized as the “kidnapping of a head of state.” He warned that the precedent established by Maduro’s capture threatens global political stability and demanded the return of both his father and stepmother, Cilia Flores.
The U.S. State Department has initiated preliminary preparations to potentially reopen the American embassy in Caracas, according to an anonymous official familiar with internal deliberations. This development signals potential normalization of diplomatic relations between the nations after years of tension.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that while the U.S. would maintain pressure on Venezuela’s oil industry through an existing “oil quarantine,” Washington does not intend to govern the country day-to-day. The administration instead anticipates policy changes regarding both oil management and narcotics trafficking prevention.
The political transition represents a complex balancing act for Rodríguez, who must navigate between maintaining domestic political support from Maduro loyalists while establishing cooperative relations with the United States.