Delcy Rodríguez must balance U.S. demands and loyalty of Venezuela’s elites

Delcy Rodríguez, sworn in as acting president of Venezuela, faces coercive demands from the U.S. after a U.S. military operation captured President Nicolás Maduro and flew him to New York to stand trial on drug charges, while she must also maintain the loyalty of the country’s ruling elites.

President Trump indicated the United States would allow Mr. Maduro’s inner circle to retain their hold on power as long as they satisfied U.S. foreign‑policy demands. The U.S. military, still stationed off Venezuela’s coast, has shown it can penetrate the country’s defenses. Political scientists say such moments are perilous for leaders because outcomes depend on whether a government’s coalition can remain united; Erica de Bruin said in 2022, “Because of the resources and access that they have, elites pose the biggest threat to authoritarian leaders,” and “Retaining the support of elites is thus crucial to remaining in power.” Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election, which Mr.

Maduro lost by a landslide according to exit polls and outside observers, showed how loyalty can determine survival: the military and other elites remained loyal and he was able to hang on to the presidency despite losing electoral legitimacy. That loyalty is rooted in both ideology — Chavismo’s opposition to American imperialism — and material gain from oil and black‑market schemes, complicating any concessions to the United States.

Potential flash points include Cuba, where some U.S.

Key Topics

World, Delcy Rodriguez, Nicolas Maduro, Chavismo, Pdvsa, Cuba