Bogotá, Colombia/Caracas – Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, in a defiant televised address on January 3, 2026, condemned the U.S. military operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores as an "abduction" aimed at regime change and control over Venezuela's vast oil, mineral, and energy reserves. Surrounded by top officials, including her brother National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, and foreign and defense ministers, she asserted that Maduro remains the country's sole legitimate leader.
"The masks have fallen," Rodríguez declared on state television, arguing that the U.S. actions revealed a true objective: dismantling Venezuela's political independence and reimposing "colonial-style rule." She described the situation as "barbaric," portraying the U.S. blockade and military actions as tools of "enslavement." Rodríguez demanded the immediate release of Maduro and Flores, emphasizing that despite the forcible removal, Maduro continues to hold legitimate authority.
"The Venezuelan people are outraged by the illegal, illegitimate kidnapping of the president and the first lady," she said, characterizing the operation as a "truly shameful" ideological attack with "Zionist overtones." She urged national unity and calm, calling on citizens to defend sovereignty against what she termed an "imperialist empire."
This address followed an earlier audio message where Rodríguez demanded Washington provide "proof of life" for the couple, stating the government was unaware of their whereabouts at the time. Reports later confirmed Maduro and Flores had arrived in New York, facing narco-terrorism and drug-trafficking charges.
The statements underscore the Venezuelan government's rejection of U.S. claims that Rodríguez had been sworn in as interim leader or was cooperating on a transition. President Donald Trump had suggested she was willing to work with the U.S., but Rodríguez's remarks directly contradicted this, insisting Maduro is Venezuela's "only president."
The operation, which involved airstrikes and a raid extracting the couple, has deepened divisions. Venezuela's Supreme Court later ordered Rodríguez to assume acting presidential duties for administrative continuity, without declaring Maduro permanently absent.
Rodríguez's appearance with the National Defense Council signaled institutional unity amid uncertainty. Analysts note her role as a staunch Maduro loyalist, often defending the government against international pressure.
The crisis stems from the January 3 U.S. "Operation Absolute Resolve," involving over 150 aircraft and special forces. Trump announced the U.S. would temporarily oversee Venezuela, focusing on revitalizing oil infrastructure with American companies. Venezuela holds the world's largest proven reserves, but output has plummeted due to sanctions and mismanagement.
Global reactions remain polarized. Allies like Russia, China, Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia condemned the action as aggression violating sovereignty. Russia demanded Maduro's release, while China called it hegemonic. The UN expressed alarm over precedents.
Some leaders, including Argentina's Javier Milei and El Salvador's Nayib Bukele, welcomed Maduro's removal. Opposition figures like María Corina Machado hailed it as advancing freedom.
As Maduro awaits arraignment in New York, Venezuela navigates leadership questions. Rodríguez's defiance suggests resistance to U.S. transition plans, raising prospects of prolonged instability in the humanitarian crisis-hit nation.
