Venezuela’s military and police forces publicly reaffirmed their allegiance to interim president Delcy Rodríguez on Wednesday, offering a rare show of institutional support amid a turbulent period in the country’s political landscape.
In a formal ceremony, Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino declared that the armed forces were committed to “absolute loyalty and subordination” to Rodríguez, presenting her with ceremonial symbols of state authority. Thousands of uniformed personnel marched past the interim president in Caracas, emphasising the value of security services in shaping the country’s unfolding power dynamics.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, a key figure in Venezuela’s security establishment, echoed that pledge on behalf of the national police, framing Rodríguez’s leadership as essential to preserving national unity and stability.
Rodríguez, who has assumed the presidency following the removal of Nicolás Maduro, finds herself navigating a delicate balancing act. Washington-backed since Maduro’s ouster earlier this month, she must secure backing from both Chavista loyalists within Venezuela and the United States, which has exerted intense pressure on the previous regime through sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
The show of support from the military is a significant development given the institution’s central role as a power broker in Venezuelan politics. Historically aligned with Maduro—who led the country for more than a decade—the armed forces’ public endorsement of Rodríguez signals a shift that could be pivotal for her administration’s prospects.
Despite backing from the security apparatus, Rodríguez’s position remains fraught with uncertainty. Venezuela’s political crisis has drawn international attention and poses difficult questions about governance, legitimacy, and the future of the country’s oil-rich economy. The United States, while supporting Rodríguez for now, has signalled that her tenure is contingent on cooperating with broader political and economic objectives.
Critics, including opposition figures and foreign leaders, have challenged Rodríguez’s legitimacy, arguing that her ascent does little to address systemic issues of democratic representation and human rights concerns that have long shadowed Venezuela. The coming weeks are likely to test how far her leadership can extend beyond ceremonial declarations of loyalty toward securing tangible political and economic stability in one of Latin America’s most pivotal nations.
