Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: After the capture of president Nicolas Maduro in a US military operation, Venezuela's Supreme Court has ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to take over the role of acting president of the country. The move came as a surprise to many, but it is being seen as a way to ensure administrative continuity in the country until more stable future options can be looked at.
Meanwhile reports are coming in that Diosdado Cabello, who controls security forces in Venezuela, may also be someone who is being looked at by the Trump administration as someone who they can work closely with as the transition process in the country commences.
The choice of Delcy Rodriguez as the new interim leader of Venezuela came as a surprise to many, but a report by the Wall Street Journal said that it came after a US Central Intelligence Agency report that suggested someone like her, though a Maduro loyalist, but someone with influence on the military and power structures of Venezuela should be chosen currently.
It was reportedly this CIA report that influenced Donald Trump on his decision as to who would be best to lead Venezuela for the time being. In June 2018, Rodríguez became vice president, with Maduro portraying her as a battle-tested and dependable figure within the ruling establishment.
The decision by Trump is also being seen as one that breaks away from years of US foreign policy measures. It looks to start a new program of stability-oriented measures when undergoing regime changes, where rather than opposition leaders, those with knowledge of the functioning of the current administration would be preferred. While this may change with time, current practice looks to be this, and other names being flouted to be in close contact with the US administration in Venezuela are also similar.
Now according to latest reports, US officials are concerned about Diosdado Cabello and are trying to rein him into cooperation with the US administration. Given his record of repression and history of rivalry with Rodriguez, the US, according to reports, is trying to force his cooperation even as they look for ways to eventually push him out of power and into exile.
While these may be early speculations, reports suggest that it has been communicated to Cabello that defiance would have him meet a similar feat as Maduro. Stakes are thus high for Cabello but the situation for the US is tricky as well. They do not want rogue elements to take control of the power vacuum and thus cannot risk eliminating any powerful entity whose absence could lead to chaos.
The names being flouted as for replacements and for those to be kept on a lookout list are those with whom such dangers can be expected. Thus, also on the list is reported to be Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, who, like Cabello, is under a US drug trafficking indictment. Despite this the US sees Padrino's collaboration as crucial for avoiding a power vacuum. A senior Trump administration official declined to answer Reuters' specific questions but said in a statement, "The President is speaking about exerting maximum leverage with the remaining elements in Venezuela and ensuring they cooperate with the United States by halting illegal migration, stopping drug flows, revitalizing oil infrastructure, and doing what is right for the Venezuelan people." The stalemate of power may continue for some time, but the new strategy of US regime change currently in place in Venezuela would see such misgiving and challenges come in.
