Venezuela’s Vice President has publicly implicated Israel in a recent U.S. military operation, framing the capture of the country’s president as part of a broader ideological conflict.
Following a dramatic U.S. military operation that struck state sites and led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Celia Flores, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has leveled serious accusations against foreign powers. In a national address, Rodríguez claimed the attack carried “Zionist undertones” and was a pretext for regime change, while simultaneously asserting her government remains in control.
Accusations of Foreign Intervention
In a Saturday address where she convened a National Defense Council, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez directly implicated Israel in the operation. “The governments of the world are shocked that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the victim and target of an attack of this nature, which undoubtedly has Zionist undertones,” Rodríguez stated. She called the event “truly shameful” and demanded the immediate release of President Maduro and the first lady.
Rodríguez asserted that their arrest was made under false pretenses with the ultimate goals of forcing a change in government and seizing control of Venezuela’s vast natural resources. She firmly rejected claims from U.S. President Donald Trump that she had been sworn in as president and was cooperating with the United States. Instead, Rodríguez declared Maduro the country’s only legitimate president and announced that Venezuelan security forces had successfully secured all government buildings.
Historical Context of Maduro’s Rhetoric
The Vice President’s remarks align with a pattern of rhetoric from the highest levels of the Venezuelan government. Amid rising tensions with the United States in November, President Maduro himself had made similar accusations. At a November 15 Bolivarian Integral Base Committee event, Maduro accused Zionists of trying to deliver his country to malign forces.
“There are those who want to hand this country over to the devils – you know who, right? The far Right Zionists want to hand this country over to the devils,” Maduro said. He framed the struggle in starkly religious terms, asking, “Who will prevail? The people of [King] David, the people of God, the people of [Simón] Bolívar, or the imperialist demons?”
During his speech, Maduro repeatedly emphasized Venezuela’s identity as a Christian nation, questioning why Americans would target Christians. This came during a period of a noticeable U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean. “I place at the forefront of this battle our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom our homeland has been entrusted, the only king between heaven and Earth, Jesus of Nazareth, the young child and Palestinian martyr, Jesus of Nazareth,” Maduro proclaimed. “I place Jesus of Nazareth as commander-in-chief of the battle for peace and the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people.”
Reaction and Implications
The Vice President’s latest comments have caused alarm within the small Venezuelan Jewish community, both for those still in the country and members abroad. The direct linkage of the US military operation to “Zionist” forces represents a significant escalation in the government’s narrative, framing its political conflict with the United States within a broader, older ideological and religious framework. The situation continues to develop as the international community reacts to the capture of the Venezuelan leader and the ensuing statements from his government.
