Life continues in Venezuela, but recent actions by Trump may lead to unforeseen consequences
Introduction
Life in Venezuela unfolds against a backdrop of a rapidly changing political landscape that commands international focus.
Recent events have drastically shifted the country’s course, clearly indicating that Venezuela no longer desires US intervention—much to the frustration of President Trump's administration.
Ironically, US threats appear to have strengthened Maduro's hold on power; the supreme court now officially recognizes Maduro’s acting Vice President and has formed a strategic alliance, effectively declaring him interim President.
Amid ongoing tensions, daily life continues under the watchful eyes of Maduro's allies.
Many Venezuelans, bewildered yet hopeful, strive to work amid a fragile economy. Meanwhile, Venezuelans abroad celebrate Maduro’s arrest, though some remain resistant. Reactions outside Venezuela are deeply divided.
In a dramatic plea, the Venezuelan military aired on national television, urgently demanding the US release Maduro immediately.
Statements issued in Venezuela today
Delcy Rodríguez (Vice President/Acting Interim President)
Rodríguez made defiant statements contradicting Trump’s characterization of her role. During a televised address on Sunday, she declared.
“In Venezuela, there is only one president, and his name is Nicolás Maduro. We are determined to be free. What is being done to Venezuela is barbaric.”
She rejected Trump’s suggestion that she would cooperate with U.S. management of Venezuela’s affairs, demanding: “The immediate return of President Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores,” and condemning the operation as a “violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and a kidnapping under international law.”
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López:
In a televised speech surrounded by uniformed soldiers, López stated.
“Every Maduro official declared that ‘Our sovereignty has been violated and breached,’ labeled the U.S. operation a ‘cowardly kidnapping,’ and claimed that security personnel, military members, and civilians were killed ‘in cold blood’ during the operation.”
Accusations fly—Venezuela’s government blames the US for inciting violence against security forces and civilians, raising the issue at the United Nations Security Council.
On the legal front in the US, experts acknowledge that Trump’s strategies have faltered, with cases possibly moving through lower courts before reaching the Supreme Court, where pivotal decisions may be made.
This turbulent situation highlights the dangerous precedent set by arbitrary arrests of leaders and cross-border conflicts. Tensions escalated with Trump’s threats against Supreme Court appointee Delcy Rodríguez—any move to remove her could violate international criminal laws.
These developments threaten to set a troubling precedent: nations might feel empowered to seize power and territory, ignoring international law and committing serious violations. These issues are expected to be discussed at the UNSC, though it’s known that the UN and most members were already opposed to intervention in Venezuela.
Conclusion
The key pattern is that Maduro’s government has mounted a unified, defiant response rejecting the legitimacy of the U.S. military operation and the Trump administration’s claims about their cooperation.
While the Venezuelan Supreme Court technically appointed Rodríguez as interim president, she immediately rejected the Trump administration’s expectation that she would facilitate U.S. control over Venezuela, explicitly affirming Maduro's legitimacy as president.
Ultimately, this raises a vital question: will the world see us as allies dedicated to stability, or as Western hegemonies willing to destabilize weaker nations for our own interests?
