Venezuela: Who’s in Charge Now?

The arrest and detention of Nicolás Maduro in the United States has triggered a leadership transition in Venezuela, leaving interim president Delcy Rodríguez to navigate a government still dominated by hardline loyalists. While Rodríguez is recognized as a pragmatist capable of fostering ties with the private sector and oil executives, she remains flanked by powerful figures like Diosdado Cabello and Vladimir Padrino, who maintain control over the military and security forces. This geopolitical shift coincides with a more aggressive "unbound" foreign policy during President Trump’s second term, characterized by military strikes in the Middle East and Africa, and threats toward nations like Greenland and Mexico. Analysts suggest this shift toward raw power and the abandonment of a rules-based international order may inadvertently provide cover for adversaries like Russia and China to assert their own spheres of influence. Despite campaign promises to avoid foreign entanglements, the administration’s actions in Venezuela signal that military intervention remains a primary tool for ensuring U.S. dominance.