Venezuela: Maduro Captured, Delcy Rodríguez Named Interim President

Maduro's Capture and US Involvement

• 💡 Nicolás Maduro was captured in Caracas by US forces in an operation on January 3rd.
• 🎯 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the capture, stating it was a strategic necessity, not an act of war.
• 📌 Rubio described Venezuela under Maduro as an operations center for Iran, Russia, and Cuba.

Delcy Rodríguez Assumes Interim Presidency

• 🚀 The Venezuelan Armed Forces swore allegiance to Delcy Rodríguez as the interim president and supreme military authority.
• ✅ Rodríguez called for a 100-day national defense plan to fortify state institutions with civic-military unity.
• 🤝 Figures like Diosdado Cabello were mentioned in the context of this new command structure.

International Reactions and Media Dynamics

• 💬 María Corina Machado met with Marco Rubio in Washington, and Venevisión broadcast her images after years of censorship.
• ⚠️ Diosdado Cabello warned Venevisión against featuring Machado, stating her influence diminishes without media attention.
• 🗣️ Colombian President Gustavo Petro called Maduro's capture a "kidnapping" but also advocated for a democratic transition in Venezuela, criticizing exclusions like Machado's.

US Policy and Future Outlook

• 📊 Marco Rubio outlined a plan for Venezuela to sell oil under controlled sanctions, with US-supervised revenues for key services.
• ✈️ US President Donald Trump announced the reopening of Venezuelan airspace for commercial travel, ensuring safety under strict controls.
• 📈 Rubio did not rule out future US actions but stated no immediate offensives were planned.