By Amara Sow, West African Correspondent
Relations between the United States and Venezuela have entered a new and uneasy chapter following the dramatic ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the rise of interim leader Delcy Rodríguez. Earlier this month, U.S. forces carried out a major military operation in Caracas that resulted in Maduro and his wife being taken into U.S. custody on charges including narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking. Maduro has since pleaded not guilty in a New York federal courtroom.
In the wake of Maduro’s removal from power on January 3, 2026, Venezuela’s Supreme Court invoked constitutional provisions to install long-time Maduro ally Delcy Rodríguez as acting president. Rodríguez, who previously served as vice president, initially condemned the U.S. strikes and called for proof that Maduro was still alive. But in recent days she has signalled a cautious willingness to engage in dialogue with Washington, suggesting a bilateral agenda that could include cooperation on development and stability.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who oversaw the operation, has publicly described Rodríguez as “cooperating” with his administration and said Washington is now “in charge” of Venezuela’s temporary governance structure — though he has stopped short of detailing what form U.S. involvement will take. Trump has also linked future cooperation to broader strategic goals, including access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, and warned that Rodríguez could face severe consequences if she does not align with U.S. objectives.
The unexpected U.S. intervention and the complex relationship with Rodríguez have divided opinion across Latin America and beyond. Some governments criticise Washington’s actions as a violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty, while allies of Trump have welcomed the removal of Maduro’s government. Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has publicly stated that he does not view Rodríguez as the right leader to guide Venezuela’s future and called for free elections.
Analysts say Venezuela now stands at a crossroads, with Rodríguez attempting to balance diplomatic engagement with the United States against internal pressures from Maduro loyalists and traditional allies such as Russia and China, who have condemned the U.S. intervention.
