Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has announced a complete overhaul of the country’s senior military command, following the dismissal of the defence minister who was closely aligned with ousted leader Nicolás Maduro. The changes were disclosed in a social media post on Thursday, a day after Rodríguez replaced the long-serving defence minister with a former intelligence chief.
Rodríguez, who served as vice-president under Maduro before his removal in a US special forces raid on 3 January, is now tasked with leading a nation facing severe economic turmoil despite holding the world’s largest proven oil reserves. The US has exerted significant pressure, including threats of violence, to ensure compliance with its demands.
Under Rodríguez’s leadership, a historic amnesty law has been enacted to free political prisoners jailed under Maduro, and oil and mining regulations have been revised to align with US expectations for access to Venezuela’s natural resources. US President Donald Trump has stated that he effectively controls Venezuela and is permitting Rodríguez to remain in power as long as she follows US directives.
Rodríguez faces the delicate challenge of balancing Trump’s demands with the loyalty of Venezuelans who still support Maduro, who is currently in New York awaiting trial on US drug trafficking charges. The Venezuelan military, which has pledged allegiance to Rodríguez, oversees key sectors including oil, mining, food distribution, customs, and government ministries, amid ongoing allegations of abuse and corruption.
