Rodríguez as Acting President Following Maduro’s Capture
CARACAS, VENEZUELA (January 4, 2026) — In a defiant response to the dramatic capture and removal of President Nicolás Maduro by United States military forces, the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) of Venezuela has officially ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of Acting President.
The judicial decree, issued late Saturday, aims to fill the power vacuum left by the U.S. operation and asserts that the nation’s administrative continuity must be maintained despite what the court terms an “illegal abduction” of its sovereign leader.
1. The Judicial Mandate: Maintaining Sovereignty
The Venezuelan Supreme Court’s ruling directed Delcy Rodríguez to take immediate control of the executive branch. According to international media reports, the court’s decision emphasizes the need to ensure “the nation’s administrative continuity and comprehensive security” during the President’s forced absence.
By appointing Rodríguez, the TSJ is signaling to the international community that the Maduro administration does not recognize the authority of the United States over Venezuelan soil. Rodríguez, a staunch ally of Maduro, is expected to lead the “Bolivarian Republic” while the government contests Maduro’s detention in New York.
2. UN Security Council Calls Emergency Session
The global community is moving swiftly to address the unprecedented military intervention. The United Nations Security Council has called for an emergency meeting tomorrow, January 5, 2026, to discuss the implications of the U.S. operation in Venezuela.
- The Schedule: The meeting is set to take place at 10:00 AM local time at the UN Headquarters in New York.
- The Participants: Ambassadors from all 15 member nations of the Security Council will attend.
- The Catalysts: The emergency session was requested by Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, both of whom have condemned the U.S. action as a violation of international law.
The meeting is expected to be a fiery showdown between nations supporting the U.S. “narco-terrorism” justification and those—such as Russia, China, and several Latin American states—who view the raid as an act of naked aggression against a sovereign state.
3. Regional Tensions and Diplomatic Fallout
The capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, has divided the Americas. While the U.S. maintains that it acted to dismantle a criminal cartel, neighbors like Colombia have expressed deep concern over the precedent of military-led “regime change” from the north.
Foreign Minister Yvan Gil has labeled the detention of the Maduro couple as “hostage-taking,” calling on the UN to demand their immediate release and the withdrawal of any U.S. influence over the Caracas administration.
4. Current Status: Maduro in New York, Rodríguez in Caracas
As of Sunday morning, the geopolitical reality remains split:
- In New York: Nicolás Maduro remains in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center, facing charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy.
- In Caracas: Delcy Rodríguez is mobilizing the Venezuelan military and civil service under the Supreme Court’s mandate, preparing for a protracted diplomatic and legal battle
