Venezuela's Interim Leader Reshuffles Leadership After Maduro's Seizure

Thu Jan 08 2026 22:38:08 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a quick move following the US seizure of Nicolás Maduro, interim President Delcy Rodríguez has sacked the head of Venezuela's presidential guard, signaling a significant power shift in the country.

Days after Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was captured in a US raid, interim President Delcy Rodríguez dismissed General Javier Marcano Tábata, who formerly led the presidential honour guard responsible for Maduro's protection. This change comes amid increasing scrutiny and potential threats from the US, with Washington declaring it would 'run' Venezuela under Rodríguez's leadership. Her appointment signifies a shift, as she aims to address the fallout from Maduro's capture while navigating complex international relationships and internal pressures.

The general in command of Venezuela's presidential honour guard, Javier Marcano Tábata, has been sacked days after Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was seized by US forces in a raid in Caracas and taken to New York to stand trial on narco-terrorism charges.

The presidential honour guard is the military force which provides the bodyguards tasked with protecting the head of state.

While the Venezuelan government has not yet provided a detailed breakdown of casualties, members of the guard are thought to be among the dozens of people killed in the US operation to seize Maduro.

The order to replace Gen Marcano Tábata was issued by the new interim president, Delcy Rodríguez.

Rodríguez was sworn in by the National Assembly, which is dominated by government loyalists, on Monday. She served as Maduro's vice-president and is considered to be a close ally of the jailed leader.

US President Donald Trump said in a news conference following Maduro's seizure that the United States would 'run' Venezuela and that the US was talking to Rodríguez.

He also threatened that Rodríguez would face a 'fate worse than Maduro's' if she did not comply with US demands, including those for oil, of which Venezuela has the world's largest proven reserves.

On Tuesday, the US president said that Venezuela would be 'turning over' up to 50 million barrels of oil to the US, but Venezuela's interim government has yet to comment on that statement.

Rodríguez's tone has been alternating between defiant and conciliatory since she was designated interim president by Venezuela's Supreme Court.

Her actions are being watched closely both inside and outside of Venezuela to gauge what course she may steer now that she is in charge of the country and for signs of any potential rifts in her government.

The sacking of Gen Marcano Tábata could be an attempt by the interim president to surround herself with trusted allies at a time when the threat of another US strike looms.