Venezuelans are facing an uncertain time.Image: keystone
analysis
After Nicolás Maduro was removed from power, US President Donald Trump is not seeking a quick return to democracy in Venezuela. His foreign minister clarified earlier statements.
January 4, 2026, 8:50 p.mJanuary 4, 2026, 8:50 p.m
Renzo Ruf, Washington / ch media
Marco Rubio is a highly talented politician. The American Secretary of State proved this again on Sunday when, in three television interviews, he corrected a statement made by the President that had caused a great stir the day before.
After the surprising arrest of Venezuelan ruler Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, Donald Trump announced that the USA now wanted to rule the South American country – and, if necessary, would also station American troops in Venezuela to ensure that the large energy companies had access to the country’s oil fields again.
On Sunday, Rubio spelled back. Trump’s statement referred to political guidelines, said the Republican, and not to people. “We expect that there will be changes.” Venezuela must develop in a certain direction because this is not only good for the country’s population, but also in the national interest of the USA. In the future, Washington will no longer tolerate states in the hemisphere that pose a threat to US security.
No rush to call an election
In plain language, this probably means that Washington can live with the fact that Maduro’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has now taken power in Venezuela. The 56-year-old left-wing politician is considered a pillar of the regime; Numerous Western countries, including Switzerland, have sanctioned her because she continued to rule unlawfully together with Maduro after the 2018 presidential election.
Rubio gave her – and thus the entire power apparatus of the autocratically ruled country – an ultimatum on Sunday: “We expect that there will not only be changes in the way the oil industry is run for the benefit of the population, but also that the drug trade will be stopped and that we will no longer have problems with gang crime.” According to Rubio, Venezuela is also no longer allowed to cooperate with other rogue states in the world.
The foreign minister, who also acts as Trump’s security advisor, implicitly said: If Rodríguez meets these conditions, she can remain in power in the eyes of Washington. When asked whether Venezuela would have to hold new elections soon – as actually required by the constitution – Rubio said: The timing is probably not ideal, “there is still a lot to do.”
He also distanced himself from the opposition, which in Washington’s eyes actually legitimately won the last two elections (2018 and 2024). He admires María Machado, the leader of the opposition and Nobel Peace Prize winner, but “we have to be realistic.” Of course, the US still wants a change of power in Venezuela, but this process will take longer “than 15 hours”. And the “overwhelming majority of the opposition” is unfortunately no longer in Venezuela.
The Maduro couple arrived in New York City
Maduro, who was taken out of the country by a special unit of the American armed forces on Saturday night, has now arrived in New York. He and his wife Cilia Flores were transferred to the civil investigation authorities in New York City.
According to a new, revised indictment from the Justice Department, the USA accuses the Maduro couple of smuggling drugs and weapons. The corresponding indictment contains 25 pages and 4 counts, but almost no evidence of the Maduros’ alleged violations of American law. The two are being held in the heavily guarded Metropolitan Detention Center in the New York borough of Brooklyn. A first session in federal court in Manhattan could take place as early as Monday.
Meanwhile, the new Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez called for Maduro’s release. Other autocratic nations such as China and Russia also joined this demand. The Foreign Ministry in Beijing said Maduro’s arrest violated international law and that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved through dialogue and negotiations. (aargauerzeitung.ch)