On Saturday, international authorities arrested Nicolás Maduro, the former dictator of Venezuela. This extraordinary event has continued to send shockwaves across our great nation and around the entire international community. Despite his capture, Maduro’s regime has effectively remained intact, as evidenced by the actions and statements from key figures within the government. Delcy Rodríguez, currently serving as Venezuela’s acting president, initially adopted a defiant stance following Maduro’s arrest but later expressed a willingness to collaborate with the United States, aiming to shift from confrontation to cooperation.
Maduro’s arrest also represents a watershed in the country’s politics. He is due to make his first appearance in front of a US district court in Manhattan on Monday. His detention has opened up questions on the prospects for his regime and the larger implications for Venezuela. Rodríguez, formerly Maduro’s vice president, was the first to put down a marker. He promised that Venezuela would “never again be anyone’s colony.” This pronouncement belies her aim to maintain the regime’s grip on power while fending off pressure from abroad.
After Maduro was seized, former US President Donald Trump gave a clear threat about Rodríguez. And when she was confirmed, he warned her that she would have to “pay a very big price” for failing to meet his demands. This last warning only heaps more pressure on Rodríguez. As for Maduro, he continues to dig in his heels to keep command of the Venezuelan dictatorship amidst shift political tides.
Many Venezuelans must have breathed a sigh of relief to learn of Maduro’s capture. Yet still others tempered their enthusiasm, warning that too much should not be read into this early announcement. Juan Carlos, a local resident, remarked, “People might be celebrating overseas but not here, we are repressed.” This passionate expression of fear underscores the severe terror that has overtaken Venezuela. Ordinary citizens risk harsh retribution by the regime for openly protesting against the government. He further noted, “If you go out to celebrate, they’ll arrest you,” emphasizing the risks associated with openly expressing joy or hope in such a repressive environment.
Andreína, a 34-year-old graphic designer and Maduro’s partner, shared her uncertainty about the future: “There is no information… We have no way of knowing what the government here, or the one overseas [the US], are planning.” Her fears are an echo of the worry felt by Venezuelans still caught in the controlling state in their home country, unsure of their country’s political trajectory.
As Rodríguez continues to chart her course through this complex landscape, she has not left the US government behind. In her first cabinet meeting post-Maduro’s capture, she extended an invitation for cooperation, stating, “We extend an invitation to the government of the US to work jointly on an agenda of cooperation, aimed at shared development.” This new approach is a big change from her aggressive, fiery language of before.
Ricardo Hausmann, a former Venezuelan minister and vocal backer of the Venezuelan opposition, applauded the US effort to imprison Maduro. In one word, he described it as “super positive.” He pointed out the perplexing nature of Trump’s subsequent remarks and strategies that seem to sideline Venezuela’s democratic opposition led by María Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
In her attempts to reshape Venezuela’s political story, Rodríguez has stressed the need for national unity and peace. She proclaimed, “This is the Venezuela I believe in and to which I have dedicated my life,” expressing hopes for a nation where all citizens can unite for progress.
Although these announcements signal a new hope from Rodríguez, many Venezuelans are cautiously optimistic. Juan Carlos reflected on their long-standing struggle for justice: “We’ve been enduring this for 25 years [since the Chavistas came to power in 1999], asking ourselves: when, when, when will this be over … Justice may be slow, but eventually it arrives.” Such sentiments reveal the entrenched anger and disenchantment that those who have endured Maduro’s regime are experiencing.
Delcy Rodríguez’s changed tune is good news for Venezuela as it looks to the future. Simultaneously, it represents perhaps the biggest danger the country must avoid at this pivotal crossroads. Whatever happens, the eyes of the world will be focused intently on the progress of these developments, both in New York and in Caracas, in the days to come.