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The political landscape in Venezuela was fundamentally altered following the capture of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, who was taken to the United States to face criminal charges. In his absence, Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim leader and moved to consolidate power by dismissing key Maduro allies. This triggered significant domestic protests, with both supporters and opponents of Maduro taking to the streets. The opposition, led by María Corina Machado, is reorganizing and positioning itself for a potential transition, though internal analyses question her future role. The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on the crisis, with the Secretary-General urging respect for Venezuela's sovereignty and a lawful political transition, a period which saw the release of some political detainees.
The U.S. operation to capture Maduro provoked a major international backlash, with numerous countries and UN officials condemning it as a violation of international law. The U.S. administration, while engaging with interim leader Delcy Rodríguez on a transition roadmap, simultaneously pursued aggressive unilateral policies, including a renewed push to acquire Greenland from Denmark and threats to dictate Venezuela's oil trade. Global reactions were sharply divided: allies like Brazil condemned the action as a "kidnapping," while Cuba expressed fears it could be next. Russia and China criticized the U.S., with the incident sparking broader debates about sovereignty and precedent, including discussions about Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's stance on Taiwan. The European Union faced internal discord over its response, highlighting fragmented international consensus.
7 topics | 176 sources
Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as the acting president of Venezuela. She held a phone call with Trump, and the director of the CIA met with her in Caracas. Marco Rubio, a U.S. senator, testified about Venezuela policy and discussed a transition process. The U.S. State Department confirmed it has a limited diplomatic team in Caracas, and the U.S. appointed a woman to lead its diplomatic mission there. Rodriguez vowed to release more prisoners and called for cooperation with the U.S. Trump said he works well with her government and is willing to meet.
Argentine President Javier Milei has appointed official Guillermo Quirno to lead negotiations with Venezuela. The talks aim to secure the release of a detained Argentine gendarme, a type of border guard, and to potentially reopen Argentina's embassy in Caracas, which has been closed. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has reportedly offered support to Milei's efforts, a move that has drawn criticism from Venezuela. The situation remains delicate, with Argentine officials proceeding cautiously as they seek a resolution.
The son-in-law of Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González has been freed from prison. Some reports suggest the release involved negotiations with the country's civic forum and a bishop in Caracas.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reported to the Senate on the situation in Venezuela. Separately, U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard was reportedly sidelined from planning related to Venezuela. Other reports focused on Diosdado Cabello, a powerful minister in Venezuela, whose political position may be in jeopardy.
Diosdado Cabello is a key figure in Venezuela's current power structure, described as unpredictable. An opinion piece argues that he should be removed from his position of influence.
13 topics | 1241 sources
Jan 30 — Jan 28
Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was captured by the United StatesNicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, was captured by the United States. The Vatican confirmed it had previously tried to negotiate an agreement for Maduro to leave power. Delcy Rodríguez, described as Venezuela's interim leader, took phone calls with Trump and dismissed a Maduro ally from a ministerial post. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio testified about Venezuela policy, and the CIA director met with the interim leader. The U.S. also named a new top envoy for Venezuela. Thousands of people marched in Venezuela calling for Maduro's release. The Trump administration said multiple American prisoners detained in Venezuela had been released. Trump posted on social media calling himself 'Venezuela's acting president.'
Jan 30
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado meets Trump, vows to become presidentVenezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with President Donald Trump at the White House, where she presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal. Separately, Machado publicly declared that she would become Venezuela's president 'when the right time comes,' making this statement while outside the country.
Jan 28
Trump renews push to acquire Greenland and asserts influence over VenezuelaTrump has renewed his interest in the U.S. purchasing Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. He shared an altered map showing Greenland, Canada, and Venezuela as U.S. territories and has threatened to impose tariffs on European countries that do not support his plan. In a related development, Trump has also made statements about Venezuela, suggesting the country would be allowed to keep its current government if it follows U.S. orders and uses oil revenue to buy only American products. The European Union has threatened to freeze a trade pact with the U.S. in response to the proposed Greenland tariffs.
Jan 29
Trump administration targets Venezuela's oil exports to Cuba and other countriesThe Trump administration is taking action to cut off Venezuela's oil exports, which are a major source of revenue for its government. The U.S. is returning a seized Venezuelan oil tanker and has warned Venezuela to stop sending oil to Cuba, with Trump stating Cuba will no longer get 'oil or money' from Venezuela. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel responded by saying 'nobody dictates to us what to do.' Advisers to Trump have also warned Venezuela to end its oil relationships with China, Russia, and Iran. The U.S. focus on Venezuela has shifted from previous concerns about drugs to its oil industry and the countries it supplies.
Jan 11
Turkish President Erdogan and Donald Trump discuss Gaza and Venezuela in phone callTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Donald Trump held a phone call. They discussed the situation in Gaza, the political situation in Venezuela, and the bilateral relationship between Turkey and the United States. Erdogan reportedly emphasized to Trump that Venezuela should not descend into chaos. The call comes amid public rallies in Seoul, South Korea, that were critical of U.S. foreign policy regarding Gaza and Venezuela.