Venezuela’s Delcy Rodríguez, serving as interim president after the capture of Nicolás Maduro by US forces on January 3, has declared a seven-day period of national mourning to honour military personnel killed during the US operation, as she publicly rejected claims that Washington now controls Venezuelan governance. The mourning decree underscores both domestic grief and political defiance amid escalating tensions with the United States over influence and control in Caracas.
Rodríguez announced the week of mourning to honour members of Venezuela’s armed forces who died in the US military action, which Venezuelan officials say killed around two dozen security officers, a figure further reinforced by additional reporting that put the total deaths—including Cuban personnel—in the dozens. She formally marked the period in a televised address in Caracas, paying tribute to those “who gave their lives defending Venezuela,” while denouncing the strike as a violation and a grave incident for the nation.
In the same address and in related public statements, Rodríguez firmly rejected assertions by the Trump administration that the US was in charge of Venezuela following the raid. She insisted that “the government of Venezuela is in charge in our country, and no one else,” affirming Venezuelan sovereignty and pushing back against claims that Washington was governing the country during the political transition.
Her remarks came amid mounting pressure from US officials, including explicit warnings from President Trump that Caracas must cooperate with Washington’s demands—even as Trump framed actions such as the capture and subsequent oil negotiations as part of US strategy. However, Rodríguez rejected these threats, asserting that her destiny and authority are determined independently of Washington.
The declaration of mourning also coincides with broader regional reactions: Cuba, a close ally of Caracas, announced its own period of mourning after reporting the deaths of 32 of its military and police personnel working in Venezuela during the operation.
The situation reflects deepening political complexity in Venezuela as the country navigates a fragile transition, heightened nationalism, and international pressure, with Rodríguez seeking to assert internal control while rejecting perceived external interference.
