Venezuela’s military and police forces on Wednesday publicly pledged their loyalty to interim president Delcy Rodríguez in a show of support that underscores her fragile grip on power following the U.S.-backed ouster of longtime leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
In a ceremony attended by thousands of uniformed troops, Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino swore allegiance to Rodríguez and presented her with the ceremonial baton and sword of independence hero Simón Bolívar. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello reiterated the loyalty of police forces, calling support for her leadership essential to defending “the continuity of the government and the integrity of the Venezuelan people.”
The public endorsement aims to solidify the authority of Rodríguez, a former vice president under Maduro who was installed as acting leader after U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife in a dramatic January 3 operation and flew them to New York for trial on drug-trafficking charges.
Rodríguez has sought to balance competing pressures: maintaining backing from remnants of the old regime while appeasing the Trump administration, which has made clear it expects cooperation on oil access and political transition. U.S. intelligence officials, however, reportedly harbor doubts about her willingness to fully break from traditional Venezuelan allies such as China, Russia and Iran — a key U.S. objective.
At a Senate hearing on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Washington does not intend to let Rodríguez or remnants of Maduro’s regime hold power indefinitely, even as he insisted there are no immediate plans for additional military action.
Analysts note the complex dynamics Rodríguez now navigates: she is lauded by some as a potential reformer capable of opening Venezuela’s vast oil sector to foreign investment, but critics warn that her past in the Maduro administration and continued ties to hardline elements may limit political reforms.
The coming weeks will test whether Rodríguez can translate ceremonial loyalty into effective governance — and whether her leadership will satisfy both domestic power brokers and Washington’s strategic aims.
