The geopolitical landscape of South America shifted violently last Saturday, but the human cost is only now becoming clear. Official reports released Tuesday indicate that 55 soldiers died during the high-stakes Nicolas Maduro capture mission executed by US special forces.
Known as Operation Absolute Resolve, the assault utilized targeted air strikes and a helicopter raid on a fortified compound in Caracas. While 23 Venezuelan service members were killed, the heaviest blow fell on foreign allies. Cuba confirmed the loss of 32 military and security personnel, including high-ranking colonels charged with protecting the regime.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez admitted that the former president’s immediate security detail was effectively wiped out during the storming of the compound.
New Leadership Amidst the Chaos
A political transition began almost immediately after the smoke cleared. Delcy Rodriguez, formerly the deputy under the old administration, has been sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president.
However, her authority is already being tested.
US President Donald Trump has offered conditional recognition of her government. His primary stipulation involves granting American corporations immediate access to Venezuela’s massive oil reserves. Furthermore, Trump is pushing to delay the constitutional requirement for new elections within 30 days, arguing the country must first be “nursed back to health.”
Opposition Rejects the Transition
This diplomatic maneuvering has outraged the existing opposition. Maria Corina Machado, a prominent leader sidelined during the US-brokered transition, vehemently refused to recognize Rodriguez.
In a sharp rebuke, Machado branded the new interim president an “architect of persecution.”
She contends that the current arrangement ignores the will of the people. “In free and fair elections, we will win by over 90 percent of the votes,” Machado asserted. She has pledged to dismantle criminal networks and transform the nation into an energy powerhouse if given the chance to lead.
Legal Battles in New York
While Caracas grapples with a power vacuum, the former first couple faces American justice. Following the Nicolas Maduro capture, the deposed leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown directly to New York.
On Monday, they stood before a Manhattan federal judge. Both entered not guilty pleas to serious charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.
A Fragile Stability
The situation on the ground remains volatile. Despite the leadership change, significant portions of the old guard remain entrenched. Hardliners like Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello still hold sway over the security apparatus.
Concerns over civil liberties are also mounting. During the chaotic transition, security forces briefly detained 16 journalists, signaling that press freedom remains under threat.
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