Venezuelan congressman Nicolás Maduro Guerra called on the ruling Chavista movement to "guarantee its absolute hegemony" in the country, marking two months since US forces captured his father, deposed president Nicolás Maduro.
Speaking at a pro-government march on March 3 demanding the release of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who are being held in New York facing narco-terrorism charges, the younger Maduro acknowledged that Venezuela faces a "complex situation" but insisted the political movement remains in power under interim president Delcy Rodríguez, whom he described as loyal and capable.
He urged supporters to “remain organised” and follow the leadership's directives, conceding the country "has transformed" since the January 3 US military operation that extracted his father from a heavily guarded compound in Caracas.
Yet the rallying call to die-hard Maduro loyalists sits uneasily with the reality of Rodríguez's interim government, which has systematically accommodated American demands. President Donald Trump has made clear Washington will "run" Venezuela during the transition period, maintaining explicit threats of further military intervention alongside economic leverage through control of oil revenues.
For her part, Rodríguez has proved willing to satisfy Trump's expectations. She has proposed legislation opening Venezuela's petroleum sector to private investment, removing restrictions that currently limit foreign participation in the country's vast oil reserves. Her government has released over 600 political prisoners since assuming power and passed amnesty legislation – though with exclusions designed to bar opposition leader María Corina Machado from benefiting – moves that align directly with American directives whilst maintaining a veneer of revolutionary rhetoric to preserve credibility amongst Chavistas.
Several senior US officials have visited Caracas in recent weeks to advance energy, minerals and security cooperation, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright in February and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum earlier this week, while US military officials held separate security talks with Venezuelan counterparts last month.
Maduro Jr.’s assertion of continued hegemony belies growing evidence of regime fractures. Venezuelan intelligence services detained Alex Saab, his father's former industry minister and alleged financial operator, in early February, a move suggesting Rodríguez is purging figures closely associated with the ousted leader.
The elder Maduro faces four criminal charges in the United States, including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and cocaine importation, whilst Flores faces similar accusations linked to drugs and weapons trafficking. Both appeared in federal court on January 5, where they pleaded not guilty.
Maduro's defence team has asked a federal court in New York to dismiss the case. His lawyer Barry Pollack argued that the US Treasury Department blocked use of Venezuelan government funds to cover legal fees after denying a licence from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which the defence contends violates Maduro's constitutional right to choose counsel.
Pollack maintained that proceeding to trial under such conditions would be unconstitutional, noting the licence was initially granted but revoked hours later, leaving the legal team without funding in a case that could result in decades of imprisonment for the former president.
The pro-government demonstration where Maduro Guerra spoke represents one of several rallies organised by hard-line Chavistas demanding the couple's release, though turnout has been modest compared to the massive mobilisations the movement commanded during Maduro's presidency.
The protests seek to project continued loyalty amongst the regime's ideological core even as Rodríguez's interim government charts a pragmatic course of cooperation with Washington that diverges sharply from the rabid anti-imperialist rhetoric that defined the socialist movement founded by former president Hugo Chavez for two decades.
US, Venezuela restore diplomatic relations as Washington pushes for access to minerals
Venezuela said Thursday it was committed to a “new stage” in relations with the United States "based on mutual respect" after both countries agreed to restore diplomatic ties. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez’s government said it was ready to pursue constructive dialogue grounded in sovereign equality and cooperation between the two nations.
Issued on: 06/03/2026 -
By: FRANCE 24
Venezuela and the United States are restoring diplomatic ties, the two countries announced Thursday, in a new sign of thawing relations after Washington ousted former president Nicolas Maduro.
The announcement came as US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum wrapped up a two-day trip to Venezuela, part of US President Donald Trump's push for greater access to the country's mineral wealth.
The re-establishment of diplomatic and consular relations "will facilitate our joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela", the US State Department said.
"Our engagement is focused on helping the Venezuelan people move forward through a phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government."
Venezuela's foreign ministry said it would "move forward in a new stage of constructive dialogue, based on mutual respect, the sovereign equality of states and cooperation between our people", adding that the renewed ties would be "positive and mutually beneficial".
The announcement came hours after Burgum, a member of Trump's cabinet who leads the National Energy Dominance Council, said he had received assurances from Caracas that the government would ensure the security of foreign mining companies keen to invest there.
'Right kind of security'
Burgum, who held talks with interim president Delcy Rodriguez during his trip, said dozens of companies had expressed interest in investing in Venezuela.
"I think you're going to see this government very concerned about providing the right kind of security," Burgum said.
He told reporters his meetings were "fantastically positive", and predicted Venezuela would surpass its oil and gas production targets in 2026.
Trump's administration says it effectively runs Venezuela and controls the country's vast natural resources after toppling Maduro.
Burgum is the second senior US official to visit since the bombing raid on January 3 that left around 100 people dead and saw Maduro and his wife flown to New York for trial on drug trafficking charges.
Besides oil, Venezuela is rich in minerals such as gold and diamonds, as well as bauxite, coltan and other rare materials used to make computers and mobile phones.
READ MOREAfter oil, US moves to secure access to Venezuelan minerals
Mining activity is concentrated in a territory known as the Orinoco Mining Arc, where armed groups are active.
Burgum's visit follows that of US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who pushed for a "dramatic increase" in Venezuela's oil output and talked up "tremendous opportunities" for both Washington and Caracas.
The enthusiastic assessments of both men, which echo Trump's stance, reflect the sea change in relations between Washington and Caracas since the capture of Maduro.
Trump has allowed Rodriguez, who was Maduro's vice president, to move up to interim leader so long as she grants US access to Venezuela's natural resources.
Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves, and Rodriguez last month overhauled the state-controlled oil sector to enable a wave of private investment. She now has her sights set on updating the mining code.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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