Delcy Rodríguez strikes defiant tone but must walk tightrope as Venezuela’s interim leader

<p>Technocrat must accommodate US demands while shoring up a regime that is hated by many Venezuelans</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jan/04/nicolas-maduro-jailed-us-attack-venezuela-donald-trump-reaction-latest-news-updates-live">US attacks Venezuela – live updates</a></p></li></ul><p>In her first speech as Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez lambasted the US and pledged fealty to Nicolás Maduro. But the Trump administration has made a cold calculation: she will bow to Washington.</p><p>Rodríguez is a political veteran who served as Maduro’s vice-president and oil minister and defended the regime against accusations of terrorism, drug-running and election-stealing, yet for now she is Donald Trump’s favoured option to lead Venezuela. “She’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” Trump said.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/04/delcy-rodriguez-tightrope-venezuela-interim-leader">Continue reading...</a>