Delsy Rodriguez took the oath as acting president of Venezuela

Delcy Rodriguez, acting president of Venezuela. Photo by Ariana Cubillos / AP Photo / dpa / picture alliance.
Delcy Rodriguez, who previously held the position of vice president, took the oath before the National Assembly, as reported by DW. This event took place against the backdrop of a U.S. operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, who previously held the presidential office.

The ceremony was conducted by her brother, parliament speaker Jorge Rodriguez. She noted: "I came, mourning the suffering caused to the Venezuelan people as a result of the illegal military aggression against our homeland. I came, mourning the abduction of two heroes," reports the Associated Press. By "heroes," she refers to both Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who was also captured by U.S. forces.

Rodriguez was appointed acting head of Venezuela just two days after the Supreme Court's decision. In her new role, she expressed her intention to develop "balanced and respectful international relations," especially with the U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump commented on Rodriguez's appointment, stating that she "will pay a high price" if she does not establish cooperation with American authorities, adding that it could be "an even greater price than for Maduro," according to The Atlantic.

Additionally, on January 4, Bloomberg, citing its sources, reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would lead the administrative management of Venezuela after the overthrow of Maduro.

On January 3, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured by a U.S. special forces unit "Delta" as part of Operation "Absolute Resolve" and were taken out of Venezuela, first to a U.S. Navy base in Guantanamo, and then to New York, where the first court hearing involving him took place on January 5.