Senior Venezuelan officials on Sunday reaffirmed their unity behind Nicolas Maduro following his capture by US forces and transfer to New York. This development has deepened uncertainty across the oil-rich South American nation.
Maduro remains in a New York detention centre and is expected to appear in court on Monday to face US drug-related charges. Despite his removal, senior figures in Caracas continue to run the government. They have described the detention of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, as an unlawful kidnapping.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged calm and loyalty in a message shared by the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). He stressed that the government remained united. Cabello warned supporters not to respond to what he called external provocations. Cabello insisted that Maduro remained the country’s only legitimate president.
Images showing the 63-year-old leader blindfolded and handcuffed shocked many Venezuelans. These images drew comparisons to past US interventions in the region. The operation marked Washington’s most controversial action in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama.
Venezuela’s Interim Government Says It’s United Behind Maduro After U.S. Capture
In a dramatic turn, opposition figures signal unity as Washington’s move reshapes Venezuela’s political landscape #WashingtonEye pic.twitter.com/v4qNXWWHbe
— Washington Eye (@washington_EY) January 4, 2026Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who also oversees the oil portfolio, has assumed interim administrative authority with the backing of Venezuela’s top court. However, she has stated publicly that Maduro remains president. Known for her close ties to the energy sector, Rodríguez has rejected Donald Trump’s claim that she is prepared to cooperate with Washington.
Venezuelan officials have repeatedly accused the United States of targeting the country’s natural resources. Cabello echoed that accusation after Trump said major US oil companies would move into Venezuela. He argued that the operation had exposed what he described as Washington’s true objective: control over Venezuela’s oil wealth.
Read: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Opposes US Takeover of Venezuela
Pressure on the energy sector has already intensified. The state-run oil company PDVSA has asked several joint ventures to reduce crude output. This information comes from sources familiar with the decision. Oil exports remain effectively frozen following a US blockade on sanctioned tankers. There has also been the seizure of cargoes in recent weeks.
Rodríguez And The Power Structure
Venezuela isn’t run by one person. It’s run by four.
Civilian side: Delcy Rodríguez and her brother Jorge.
Military side: Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López.
All four appeared together on television… https://t.co/Mma3yzauqW
— PiQ (@PiQSuite) January 4, 2026Venezuela’s economy, once among the strongest in Latin America, has deteriorated sharply during Maduro’s presidency. Years of mismanagement, sanctions, and political turmoil have pushed roughly one in five citizens to leave the country. This is part of one of the world’s largest migration crises.
US officials sought to soften the message on Sunday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was prepared to work with Venezuela’s existing leadership. He stressed that the US campaign targeted drug trafficking networks rather than the Venezuelan population. Rubio suggested that the administration was not pursuing immediate regime change.
Rubio told US media outlets that Washington would judge Venezuelan officials by their actions, not public statements. He also said it was too early to discuss new elections. This signalled limited US interest in installing opposition leaders in the short term.
On the streets of Venezuela, reactions remained cautious. Security forces appeared less visible than expected in some areas, while daily life continued in muted fashion. Shops and cafes reopened in several cities, though many residents stocked up on essentials amid lingering anxiety.
In the oil city of Maracaibo, a single mother said fear had become part of everyday life. Yet, necessity forced people to carry on. Local business owners said they reopened stores to support neighbourhoods that relied on them for basic supplies.
Opposition figures reacted with restraint. Trump has publicly dismissed the idea of opposition leader María Corina Machado assuming power, but he argues she lacks sufficient domestic support. Machado, whom authorities barred from the 2024 election, maintains that her ally Edmundo González holds a democratic mandate.
International reaction has remained critical. Russia and China condemned the US action, while several Western governments urged respect for international law. The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss the crisis. Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the operation could set a dangerous precedent.
