Hours following a bold military operation carried out by the U.S., Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was removed from power and taken out of the country on Saturday. In response, his vice-president demanded Maduro’s immediate release and affirmed his legitimacy as the country’s leader.
The early hours of Saturday saw multiple explosions and low-flying aircraft traversing Caracas. Maduro’s government accused the U.S. of launching an “imperialist attack” on both civilian and military targets, prompting a call for citizens to demonstrate on the streets.
Maduro and his wife were apprehended from their residence on a military base and subsequently escorted onto a U.S. warship before being transported to New York City. They are set to face charges based on a Justice Department indictment alleging their involvement in a narco-terrorism conspiracy.
Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez disclosed that several Venezuelan civilians and military personnel lost their lives during the operation. According to Venezuelan law, Rodriguez would be next in line to assume the presidency, although she clarified in a televised appearance on Saturday that she had no intentions of taking over the leadership role.
Instead, Rodriguez advocated for Maduro’s release and asserted his position as the legitimate president of Venezuela. She emphasized, “There is only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicolás Maduro Moros.”
Rodriguez’s statements contradicted claims by U.S. President Trump, who suggested she had been inaugurated as president and had engaged in discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump alleged that Rodriguez expressed readiness to cooperate with the U.S. in restoring Venezuela’s stability.
Despite Trump’s assertions, there was no live broadcast of a swearing-in ceremony for Rodriguez, and she refrained from declaring herself acting president or addressing any political transition during her televised speech. On the contrary, she condemned the actions against Venezuela as a violation of international law.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado advocated for opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez to assume power, citing his purported victory in the 2024 presidential election. The Venezuelan constitution stipulates that a new election must be organized within a month in the absence of the president, yet experts have debated the applicability of this succession process given the circumstances surrounding Maduro’s removal.
Trump proclaimed that the U.S. government would assist in governing Venezuela, despite no immediate indications of such involvement. He declared plans for a safe and orderly transition while emphasizing the success of the operation as a warning to those posing threats to American sovereignty.
The military operation culminated in a significant shift orchestrated by the Trump administration, following an extensive campaign to pressure Venezuela and months of covert planning. The operation’s legal basis was not immediately clarified, with the Trump administration justifying it as necessary to combat drug trafficking. Trump also hinted at leveraging the leadership vacuum to revamp Venezuela’s oil sector and boost oil exports to other countries.