WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the inclusion of a direct military component in Washington’s oversight mechanism for Venezuela’s interim government, currently led by Delcy Rodríguez.
According to reports cited by U.S. media, the move will bring the U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, into coordination channels that were previously managed primarily through Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The decision aims to strengthen monitoring and supervision of Venezuela’s political transition following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation on January 3.
Maduro was detained during a large-scale U.S. operation in Caracas and later transferred to the United States to face charges related to drug trafficking and other offenses. After his removal, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed the role of interim president amid a political transition in the country.
The incorporation of the Pentagon into the coordination structure means that Venezuelan military authorities are expected to maintain direct communication channels with Washington while the political transition unfolds. U.S. officials say the goal is to ensure stability while encouraging reforms in areas such as governance, institutional oversight and national security.
According to U.S. officials, Washington’s strategy for Venezuela is expected to unfold in several phases, including stabilization, economic recovery and a broader political transition. The plan includes international supervision and the possible restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Recent steps already indicate a shift in relations. For example, the U.S. flag was raised again at the American embassy in Caracas for the first time since 2019, signaling a potential reopening of diplomatic ties after years of strained relations.
At the same time, the Trump administration has made clear that it expects cooperation from Venezuela’s interim leadership. Among Washington’s priorities are opening the country’s energy sector to international investment, releasing political prisoners and organizing internationally supervised elections aimed at determining Venezuela’s future political direction.
The developments mark a new phase in the relationship between Washington and Caracas after years of sanctions, political confrontation and economic crisis in the South American nation.