Venezuela’s new interim leader insists her people still run their own country, not any foreign power.
Former vice-president Rodriguez sends mixed signals, sometimes conciliatory toward Trump, other times firmly defiant about Venezuela’s independence stance.
Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez declared on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, that no foreign power is governing her country, pushing back strongly against claims of U.S. influence even as Washington announced plans to receive millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil. Her remarks were aimed at calming a shaken nation struggling to absorb a series of extraordinary political and military developments.
Rodríguez’s statement followed an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Venezuela would be “swiftly” transferring 30 million to 50 million barrels of high-quality oil to the United States at market prices. Trump said the plan would be implemented immediately by the U.S. energy secretary and framed the arrangement as beneficial to both countries, though he also said the proceeds would be overseen by his administration.
Standing before cameras in Caracas, Rodríguez struck a firm tone, insisting Venezuela remains in Venezuelan hands. “We are in charge,” she said, emphasizing sovereignty at a moment when many citizens fear their country’s future is being shaped elsewhere. Her message was one of resolve, but it carried the weight of a nation still reeling from sudden upheaval.
Only days earlier, U.S. forces carried out a pre-dawn military operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of long-time president Nicolás Maduro, who was flown to the United States to face drug trafficking and weapons charges. Venezuelan authorities said the raid left at least 24 security personnel dead, triggering nationwide shock and grief.
Rodríguez, who served as vice-president under Maduro, declared a period of national mourning for those killed in the operation. She described the fallen officers as defenders of Venezuelan sovereignty and accused foreign powers of violating international law. Across Caracas, security was tightened as demonstrations erupted, with some demanding justice for Maduro and others calling for stability amid growing uncertainty.
At the same time, Rodríguez’s public messaging has reflected a delicate balancing act. While her statements to Venezuelans have been forceful and nationalistic, her comments toward Washington have been more complex. At moments, she has signaled openness to dialogue, speaking of cooperation, respect, and economic recovery. At others, she has adopted a defiant tone, rejecting what she described as foreign pressure and interference.
These mixed signals underscore the political tightrope Rodríguez is walking. As interim leader, she must navigate internal divisions, lingering loyalty to Maduro within parts of the military and bureaucracy, and the overwhelming influence of the United States, which now holds unprecedented leverage over Venezuela’s political and economic future.
The oil announcement has become a particular flashpoint. Venezuela possesses some of the world’s largest crude reserves, and oil has long been both its lifeline and its vulnerability. While Trump insisted the oil would be sold at market prices rather than seized, critics inside Venezuela fear the arrangement effectively places the country’s most valuable resource under foreign control.
International reaction has been sharply divided. Some governments and analysts argue the oil deal could help stabilize global energy markets and offer Venezuela a path toward economic recovery. Others warn that combining military intervention with control over natural resources risks setting a dangerous precedent and undermining long-standing norms of sovereignty.
Within Venezuela, ordinary citizens are left grappling with fear, fatigue, and fragile hope. Years of economic crisis have left many desperate for relief, yet there is widespread anxiety that political decisions are being driven by outside interests rather than the will of the people. Rodríguez’s assertion that “no foreign power” governs the country has resonated emotionally, but many view it as an aspiration rather than a settled reality.
As night fell over Caracas, the capital remained tense but quiet. The interim government held firm control, yet uncertainty loomed large. Whether Rodríguez can maintain sovereignty, restore stability, and define a new political path — while managing pressure from Washington — remains the central question facing Venezuela at this historic moment.