A portrait of ousted Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro is seen during a demonstration in Caracas on January 4, 2026, a day after he was forcibly seized in a US strike.Photo: VCG

"This is not merely the kidnapping of a president, but the kidnapping of the entire Venezuelan nation. And all of this is unfolding under the gaze of the whole world." Venezuelan former deputy foreign minister and geopolitical expert Daniela Rodríguez described the incident in which the US forcibly seized President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday and subjected him to a so-called "trial" within the US in this way during an exclusive interview with the Global Times on Tuesday. 

She also stated that the US military actions against Venezuela have not yet concluded; they represent merely the starting point of the US' attempt to "control and colonize" Venezuela's processes. However, she noted, the people of the country are unlikely to passively submit to the US's attempts. 

In the early morning of Saturday, the US military launched a large-scale military strike against Venezuela, forcibly seizing Maduro and his wife and bringing them to the US. US President Donald Trump claimed that the US will "run" Venezuela until until there is a "safe, proper and judicious transition." Multiple countries and international organizations have expressed strong condemnation on the US' action. 

"With this operation, no president in the world is safe anymore in their own country, on their own territory," Rodríguez stressed during the interview with Global Times. She pointed out that the US launching a surprise attack on a peaceful country that did not pose a direct military threat to it, and "kidnapping an incumbent president," has completely crossed the bottom line of international relations. 

Regarding the future development of Venezuela's political situation, she believes that the current political landscape in the country is rife with uncertainty. Although state institutions are still functioning and there appears to be a certain calm on the surface, the direct threat from the US remains existed.

Given Trump has publicly claimed his intention to directly "run" Venezuela and continues to threaten political figures currently leading the country, warning Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez that she would "pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro" if she fails to "do what's right," this means Venezuela is effectively still under a US military siege, Daniela Rodríguez said.  

Regarding widespread speculation over whether traditional opposition figures could ascend to power with support from the US, the former Venezuelan deputy foreign minister offered a negative judgment. Daniela Rodríguez argued that the current US administration has effectively cut ties with traditional Venezuelan opposition representatives. Since these figures primarily received support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), they are no longer trusted by the current administration. Instead, the US may selectively cultivate new opposition figures abroad and facilitate their return to Venezuela to strengthen political influence.  

Daniela Rodríguez said that the US has carried out a "punitive" military operation in the worst sense of the word, one that violates international law while being both violent and effective. This is a message to any president, especially those in the region.

However, in her view, it is unlikely that the Venezuelan people will yield passively to US ambitions. Throughout Venezuelan history, we have experienced many moments when empires sought to establish their dominance and control over the country, which led to armed struggles and resistance, this is something the Americans are trying to avoid at all costs, she said.