The US outlines Venezuela's future with Delcy Rodríguez as a key figure

WashingtonThe United States begins to outline a kind of plan for the future of Venezuela the day after decapitating the regime with the kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro. While the Venezuelan leader and his wife are at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in New York awaiting their first court hearing scheduled for Monday, the Trump administration has begun to answer some of the many questions that remain unanswered. After the US president only clarified on Saturday what he intends to do with Venezuelan oil, a possible transitional government has emerged, potentially led by [name of person missing in original text]. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as a key figure.

"If he doesn't do the right thing, he will pay a very high price, probably higher than Maduro," the US president warned in a telephone interview with The AtlanticAs established by the Venezuelan Constitution, the vice president of the Chavista leader is first in the line of succession. The idea that Rodríguez could be the one to assume the reins of the country has gained traction in recent hours, after Trump ruled out Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado as the country's new leader on Saturday. The US president considered that she did not have "enough respect" to lead the transition. This Sunday morning, Secretary of State Marco Rubio again ruled out Machado, arguing that Washington is now "dealing with the immediate reality" and opting for Rodríguez. "The difference is that the person who was in charge [Maduro], even if he wasn't legitimate, wasn't someone you could work with," Rubio explained on CBS, insisting that, with the Chavista leader captured, he expects cooperation with the Venezuelan government to be more efficient. The content of the talks between US and Venezuelan government officials is unknown, but Rubio—known for his hawkish stance on Venezuela and Cuba—is confident that Rodríguez's interim presidency will ultimately align with US interests. "We will judge them by what they do," the US Secretary of State warned. Another question Rubio seems to have clarified is whether Washington will directly control the country and its willingness to send troops. On Saturday, Trump said he would lead the transition process and emphasized that "we are not afraid to deploy troops on the ground, if necessary." This Sunday, the Secretary of State softened his tone somewhat and opted more for manipulating the Venezuelan government through pressure on the country's oil industry. How this pressure will be exerted remains unclear. Yesterday, Trump said they would send their "subject matter experts" to help US oil companies gain access to Venezuelan infrastructure. It also remains unclear who these supposed experts are and how they will act. At this point, it's still easier to find questions than answers about the situation.

It is surprising that, despite considering Maduro's presidency illegitimate, Washington is willing to leave Rodríguez in charge of the country as a future interlocutor. Likewise, it is also contradictory to want to lead a regime change while allowing the vice president to assume power, as planned. Although The Delta Force unit kidnapped MaduroThe remaining key figures of the regime remain in the country: the Vice President's brother, Jorge Rodríguez, head of the National Assembly; and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, the country's true strongman and guardian of the Chavista civilian-military universe. The members of the Venezuelan executive branch—at least publicly—have stood firm against Washington's expressed confidence in tightening its grip on the country. Delcy Rodríguez declared on Saturday from Caracas that Venezuela "will not be a US colony." "There is only one president in that country, named Nicolás Maduro," she asserted. In a speech broadcast this Sunday, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López again rejected any notion of the United States "governing" his country and affirmed that the Venezuelan armed forces "will continue to employ all their available capabilities for military defense, the maintenance of internal order, and the preservation of peace." The army's loyalty, put to the test

At a moment of maximum vulnerability for the regime, it is once again crucial to see whether the army will support Chavismo and remain loyal during one of the worst moments in its history. The statements by Padrino López, head of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, initially guarantee that Rodríguez will have the support of the military. Even so, there are also Chavista paramilitary groups, known as "collectives", who come from the most radical wing of Chavismo and have influence spread throughout neighborhoods and areas. In principle, these groups respond to the calls of Cabello, the highest authority in the Chavista civilian-military world, who on Saturday already asked thecollectives"Mobilize in the face of US intervention. But Cabello's control is not absolute, and these groups have already been involved in tensions in the past. The Armed Forces are not a homogeneous bloc either, and despite the words of the Minister of Defense, there is speculation about internal disagreements.

of Venezuela is far from the reality that is experienced on the streets of the country. A state of emergency has been declared in Venezuela, and in Caracas, military and police patrol the deserted streets on Cabello's orders. Meanwhile, lines of Venezuelans grow longer outside the few supermarkets and pharmacies that are open, hoping to stock up on food and medicine amidst the utter uncertainty.

The anxiety gripping Venezuela has already begun to spread to other countries in the region, with particular attention to the leftist governments of Colombia, Mexico, and Cuba. This Sunday, Rubio again focused on Havana and sent a message to the Castro regime: "I think the Cuban government is in big trouble."