On Wednesday, Delcy Rodríguez, acting president of Venezuela, was officially recognized as the supreme commander of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB). This recognition comes 25 days after the United States captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas and transported them to New York.
The state-run Venezolana de Televisión (VTV) broadcasted the ceremony where various branches of the FANB, led by Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, Interior and Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello, and Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez, pledged their allegiance to the Chavista leader, according to an EFE report.
Rodríguez described the ceremony as a "symbolic" event and had the FANB swear "before God" to honor "the sacred duty of defending the nation, its Constitution, its laws, and its institutions, even at the cost of their lives if necessary."
During the event, the acting leader urged military and police forces to safeguard the nation's "future and peace." She stated, "We will prevail; together, we will defend the future and ensure lasting peace."
Meanwhile, Diosdado Cabello expressed "absolute loyalty" from security organizations and stated that "defending the acting president's administration is defending the government's continuity and the Venezuelan people's integrity."
In a similar vein, Vladimir Padrino López pledged "absolute loyalty and subordination" to Rodríguez on behalf of the FANB and ceremonially handed her the country's command baton. The state television reported that the event was attended by 3,200 combatants.
"We swear absolute loyalty and subordination to the citizen Delcy Rodríguez as the acting president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," declared the Defense Minister.
Rodríguez took on executive duties on January 5th, following her swearing-in by Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez, in compliance with an order from the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ).
The acting leader has claimed that Venezuela is entering a new "political phase" and announced an "exploratory" process to renew relations with the United States, including the sale of Venezuelan oil.
On the same day, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before Congress, asserting that President Donald Trump's administration "is not planning nor intending to execute a new attack on Venezuelan territory," though he did not rule out the use of force to compel the interim government to cooperate.
President Trump has demanded "full access to Venezuela's oil" and recently praised the government led by Rodríguez, stating it "has shown very strong leadership."
Key Aspects of Venezuela's Political Shift
What was the significance of Delcy Rodríguez's recognition by the FANB?
Delcy Rodríguez's recognition as the supreme commander of the FANB solidifies her position as acting president and demonstrates the military's support for her leadership in the absence of Nicolás Maduro.
How has the United States responded to the political changes in Venezuela?
The United States, under President Donald Trump's administration, has shown interest in renewing relations with Venezuela, including oil trade, while emphasizing that no new military actions are currently planned.