Power Shift In Venezuela After US Forces Seize Maduro
After the US raid, Venezuela’s interim government took over, while Washington claimed to have a lot of political power. President Trump said that the US would be in charge of running things while the country moved toward elections. This announcement changed the way Latin American countries thought about diplomacy, trade, and security right away.
Even though the US said otherwise, Venezuelan institutions kept working according to the constitutional rules that were in place before the crisis. Lawmakers who were loyal to the ruling party quickly set up formal structures for interim authority. The goal of these steps was to show that things would stay the same and avoid a complete breakdown of state functions.
Source: Time Magazine/Website
Delcy Rodríguez Becomes Interim Leader With US Support
After Maduro was captured by US troops, Delcy Rodríguez, who had been vice president, took over as interim leader. The National Assembly of Venezuela said that the constitution gave her temporary power. If the president is gone for good, she can only stay in her position for a certain amount of time.
Rodríguez seems to have the US’s silent support after talking to President Trump early on. Trump praised her publicly for working with him and being willing to meet American needs. This support made her position much stronger in Venezuela’s broken power structure.
Opposition Figures And US Relations Shape Political Direction
Trump also met with María Corina Machado, the leader of the opposition. He praised her long history of political activism. People liked her, but they didn’t support her as Venezuela’s new leader. This lack of clarity showed that Washington would rather have practical stability than symbolic wins for the opposition.
Some people who were against the decision were upset because they thought Washington would support them more strongly. Previous voting counts showed that Machado’s coalition had a lot of support from the people. Still, the US’s main goal was to work together right away, not to fight over the results of the election.
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Policy Changes And Compliance Follow US Intervention
Rodríguez used a 2-pronged approach that included both defiant speech and actual compliance with US demands. She publicly condemned Maduro’s seizure and organized rallies calling for his release. At the same time, her government made changes that were in line with Washington’s economic goals.
Venezuela changed its laws to allow more foreign investment in its oil sector, which is a big deal. Under pressure from the US, political prisoners were freed and a bill for amnesty was written. The US embassy in Caracas reopened, and diplomatic relations resumed.
Trump’s Vision To Control And Expand Venezuelan Oil Output
Trump said he would “unleash” Venezuela’s oil while keeping an eye on sales for an indefinite amount of time. He said that US control would make energy markets more stable and lower prices around the world. This plan is important for both the economy and the world because Venezuela has so many resources.
The country has the most proven oil reserves in the world, with more than 300 billion barrels. But since nationalization and years of sanctions, production has fallen off a cliff. Trump told American businesses to put a lot of money into restoring production capacity.
Legal Disputes And Sovereignty Questions Surround Oil Strategy
US officials say that American oil companies should be paid for property that was taken from them years ago. ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips left Venezuela before because they didn’t want to follow the government’s rules. Payments are still not settled because of disagreements over sanctions, even though damages were awarded.
Experts in international law say that Venezuelan oil legally belongs to the people of Venezuela. Washington would be in charge of the money, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He said that the money would only be used for the public good.
Global Reaction And Risks After The Venezuela Operation
Russia, China, and several Latin American countries strongly condemned the US military operation. People who didn’t like the raid said it broke international law and the country’s sovereignty. Reports said that civilians were hurt during the extraction operation.
The US says that intervention will bring stability and prosperity, even though people are against it. The situation is still unstable because there are still questions about elections, oil control, and legitimacy. The future of Venezuela depends on foreign oversight and a change in the country’s politics.
