Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s former vice president, is dismantling Nicolás Maduro’s inner circle under U.S. pressure, firing allies and detaining businessmen linked to the ousted leader. Over 17 ministers and military commanders have been replaced in three months, with Maduro’s relatives barred from oil contracts. $200 billion in oil contracts previously tied to Maduro’s family are now being reassigned to U.S.-aligned investors, signaling a shift toward privatization. The Trump administration’s threat of renewed military action has emboldened Rodríguez to target figures once deemed untouchable, accelerating a power vacuum.

The purge has triggered economic uncertainty, as Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy faces disruption. While Rodríguez’s government claims oil flows will boost public finances, critics argue the crackdown entrenches authoritarianism under a pro-American facade. Analysts note the move prioritizes U.S. energy interests over democratic reforms, with polls showing mixed public sentiment about the transition.

Maduro’s allies, including chavista loyalists and oligarchs, now face surveillance and exile fears. Former propagandists like Mario Silva have been sidelined, forced to retreat to marginal media platforms. The U.S.-backed transition has left many questioning whether Venezuela will become a democratic ally or a resource-extraction puppet state.

U.S. Special Forces’ January raid to capture Maduro exposed long-standing vulnerabilities in his regime, revealing alleged betrayal by insiders. With Russia condemning the operation and regional tensions rising, Venezuela’s strategic pivot toward Washington risks destabilizing South American geopolitics.