Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has dismissed General Javier Marcano Tábata from his position as commander of the presidential honor guard, just days after former leader Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. forces during a raid in Caracas and transported to New York to face narco-terrorism charges. The move comes amid heightened tensions between Venezuela and the United States, with Rodríguez navigating a delicate balance between defiance and potential cooperation while facing threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Maduro’s Seizure and Immediate Aftermath
The U.S. operation to seize Maduro resulted in significant casualties, though the Venezuelan government has not released a detailed breakdown. Dozens of people were killed, including members of the presidential honor guard, which is responsible for providing bodyguards to protect the head of state. Venezuela’s military reported that 23 of its members, including five generals, died in the strikes. Cuba, a key ally that has supplied security and intelligence support to Maduro, stated that 32 of its nationals were killed, many believed to have been integrated into the presidential guard.
Following Maduro’s capture, he was displayed before cameras in prison attire with his hands bound, an image that left some government supporters feeling “humiliated” by the overpowering of Venezuela’s defense systems and personal security detail.
Rodríguez’s Rise to Interim President
Delcy Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president and is seen as a close ally of the detained leader, was designated interim president by Venezuela’s Supreme Court. She was sworn in on Monday by the National Assembly, which remains dominated by government loyalists.
Since assuming the role, Rodríguez’s statements have shifted between defiance and conciliation. She condemned Maduro’s seizure as an “illegal kidnapping” but also extended an olive branch, noting that her government had “invited the US government to work together on an agenda of co-operation.” Her approach is under close scrutiny both domestically and internationally for indications of her intended direction and any emerging divisions within the government.
U.S. Involvement and Demands
In a news conference immediately after Maduro’s capture, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the United States would “run” Venezuela and confirmed ongoing discussions with Rodríguez. He warned that she would face a “fate worse than Maduro’s” if she failed to meet U.S. demands, particularly regarding oil—Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven reserves.
On Tuesday, Trump announced that Venezuela would “turning over” up to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., though Rodríguez’s interim government has not yet responded to this claim. Trump reiterated threats on Saturday, revealing that U.S. forces had readied a second wave of strikes but decided against it for the time being. He emphasized that non-compliance would result in Rodríguez paying “a very big price.”
Additionally, Venezuela’s interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, a hardline figure long accused by the U.S. of involvement in a “narco-conspiracy” that allegedly aided left-wing rebels in shipping cocaine to the United States, has reportedly been urged by the Trump administration to comply, according to sources familiar with the matter cited by Reuters.
The Sacking of General Marcano Tábata
The dismissal of General Javier Marcano Tábata marks one of the initial shifts in senior officials within Rodríguez’s inner circle. In addition to commanding the presidential honor guard, Marcano Tábata led Venezuela’s military counterintelligence unit, the DGCIM. According to the United Nations, the DGCIM has been instrumental in suppressing critics of the Maduro government. A UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission reported numerous human rights violations by the unit since 2013, documenting cases where detainees endured “torture, sexual violence and/or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment” at DGCIM headquarters and in a series of secret detention centers across the country.
However, the sacking does not seem tied to these repression allegations, as Rodríguez appointed Gustavo González López as his successor. González López previously led Venezuela’s national intelligence service, Sebin, for many years. Sebin oversees the infamous Helicoide prison in Caracas, where the UN has recorded abuses against “opposition politicians, journalists, protesters, and human rights defenders.”
Potential Reasons and Implications
Venezuelan analysts suggest that Marcano Tábata’s removal is more likely linked to the presidential guard’s inability to thwart Maduro’s seizure during the U.S. raid. By replacing him, Rodríguez may be seeking to bolster her security with trusted figures, especially as the possibility of further U.S. strikes looms.
This development raises questions about whether Rodríguez, once a trusted lieutenant of Maduro, can now align with U.S. interests under Trump’s pressure. Her government faces ongoing challenges, including the need to address internal humiliations and external threats while managing Venezuela’s vast oil resources.
