“I am pleased to announce that this week we officially recognized the government of Venezuela, in fact, legally recognized it,” – Trump said.
After the US attacked Venezuela And President Nicolas Maduro detainedthe vice-president of the country, Delcy Rodriguez, became the acting president. Trump noted that she is “doing an excellent job” and is cooperating with the United States.
In early January, Politico wrote that Rodriguez was likely the central figure in any U.S. strategy on Venezuela and that Trump's team believed it had her on a “short leash.” At the same time, Rodriguez herself, against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s demands to resume oil exports, stated that “Washington’s orders are enough for her.”
According to The Associated Press, Rodriguez is involved in a dozen investigations by the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
Context
On the night of January 3, the United States conducted a special operation in Caracas, during which Maduro and his wife Celia Flores were detained and taken out of Venezuela. According to CBS, they were captured by the elite special forces unit of the US Army, Delta. Maduro and Flores appeared in court in New York.
According to the Venezuelan Ministry of Internal Affairs, 100 people died due to the US special operation. Bild wrote that Trump could have a secret deal with Maduro’s entourage.
Trump at a briefing on January 3 said that the United States will lead Venezuela until the government changes there. On January 4, Bloomberg, citing a source, wrote that US Secretary of State and acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio will play a leading role in governing Venezuela.
In an interview published on January 4, Rubio said that the United States will not allow Venezuela to become a hub for Iran, Russia and China.
On January 9, Trump admitted that the United States was planning a “second wave” of special operations in Venezuela, but the people there “acted smartly.”
On January 11, the US Treasury allowed some sanctions on Venezuela to be lifted.
