Venezuela's interim leader rebukes US orders after Maduro's capture

Monday 26 January 2026 - 14:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Venezuela's interim leader rebukes US orders after Maduro's capture

Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez delivered a sharp rebuke to Washington on Sunday, proclaiming she has had "enough" of US dictates as her government grapples with the fallout from former president Nicolás Maduro's capture by American forces earlier this month. Speaking to oil workers at the Puerto La Cruz refinery in Anzoátegui state, Rodríguez urged foreign powers to stay out of Venezuelan politics. The state television broadcast marked a stark shift from her earlier alignment with the Trump administration, according to reports from Xinhua and CNN.

Rodríguez walks a tightrope, balancing White House demands with loyalty from Maduro's domestic supporters. Following Maduro's January 3 detention, the US outlined conditions including severing ties with China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba, while committing oil production exclusively to American partners. Venezuela's vast reserves, the world's largest, suit US refineries perfectly, and Rodríguez confirmed receipt of a $300 million payment this week from US oil sales.

Despite defiant rhetoric, her administration has conceded ground, boosting weekly deportation flights from two to three at Washington's request, per US officials cited by The New York Times. Economic reforms redirect lucrative oil exports from China to the US market and inject funds into banking to steady the national currency. Yet political controls persist, with armed security checks on drivers' phones in Caracas and military intelligence posts near her residence.

Rodríguez stressed diplomatic resolution of disputes, vowing to prioritize peace and stability for Venezuelans. Her stance remains fragile amid a US naval flotilla blockading the country. President Trump initially signaled US oversight post-Maduro, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio later softened that line.