The Current The US has captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Now what?
Jan 5, 2026
Phil Gunson, a senior analyst for the Andes region at the International Crisis Group, and Luis Duno-Gottberg, a Venezuelan scholar at Rice University, share their insights after the U.S. military captured Nicolás Maduro. They discuss the swift complexities of the raid, the implications for power dynamics within Venezuela, and fears among citizens about continued governance. Luis highlights Venezuelans' yearning for peace and basic needs while pondering U.S. motives. Both guests emphasize the resilience within Venezuela as it faces uncertain political waters.
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Opposition Leaders Are Dispersed
- Opposition figures like Edmundo González and María Corina Machado are mostly abroad and out of immediate power.
- Gunson notes González was elected but remains in exile, limiting the opposition's immediate influence.
Oil Control And Economic Opening
- Delcy Rodríguez formally controls the oil industry as oil minister and now acting president.
- Gunson and Matt stress her economic openness but warn she may not pursue political liberalization.
Fear Of A Cosmetic Transition
- Many Venezuelans fear little will change and that elites will keep power despite Maduro's removal.
- Gunson warns a U.S.-brokered deal between Trump and Rodríguez risks sidelining the broader opposition and citizen interests.