In the aftermath of Nicolás Maduro's removal from power, Venezuela remains a nation in flux, with various forces vying for control. A journalist in Caracas, identified only as Anna, recounts the night of the US attack on the capital. 'At almost 2am, I was awake, and the first explosion, I thought it was an earthquake,' she says. As explosions continued, she realised it was an American operation.
Anna describes the tense atmosphere on Caracas streets, where many still feel nervous about the new regime. She notes that the current political and economic dynamics reflect a long-standing lack of autonomy for Venezuelans, warning that other countries could face similar democratic losses.
Tom Phillips, the Guardian's Latin America correspondent, reports from the Colombia-Venezuela border, where Venezuelans crossing express mixed feelings of apprehension and hope. He highlights mistrust and fragility within the new leadership, opposition disappointment, and how Venezuela's oil reserves may have influenced US political calculations.
Despite the change in power, Phillips emphasises the intense deprivation that still grips the country, with many facing severe shortages and economic hardship. The future remains uncertain as Venezuela navigates this new chapter.
