Delcy Rodríguez Venezuela Interim Government Sacks Guard Chief After Maduro’s Arrest

The price of failing to protect a president is immediate dismissal. Just days after US forces seized Nicolás Maduro in a daring raid in Caracas, Venezuela's interim leader has cleaned house. Delcy Rodríguez, recently sworn in as interim president, sacked the general in charge of the presidential honor guard, Javier Marcano Tábata.

Internal Purge in Delcy Rodríguez Venezuela Interim Government

The removal of Gen. Marcano Tábata follows a humiliating breach of security that allowed US special forces to capture Maduro at his residence. According to BBC News, the raid resulted in significant casualties, including 32 Cuban nationals and 23 Venezuelan military members. Analysts suggest the dismissal is a direct response to the guard's failure to repel the American strike on January 5, 2026.

Rodríguez has appointed Gustavo González López as the new chief. López previously headed the national intelligence service (Sebin), an organization frequently accused by the United Nations of human rights abuses. This move indicates that Rodríguez is prioritizing loyalty and hardline control as she navigates a government without its long-time figurehead.

Trump Demands 50 Million Barrels of Oil

The pressure from Washington isn't letting up. President Donald Trump recently stated that Venezuela would be turning over up to 50 million barrels of oil to the US. He issued a blunt ultimatum to Rodríguez, warning she would face a "fate worse than Maduro's" if she didn't comply with US demands. While Rodríguez has denounced Maduro's seizure as an "illegal kidnapping," she's also signaled a willingness to work on a "co-operation agenda" with the US.