Armed Patrols, Rising Fear as Venezuela Adjusts to New Leadership

Armed security forces are now visible across Venezuela’s capital. Since the recent removal of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, the BBC reports that the government has increased its military presence in public spaces.

On Monday, Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president. In her first public remarks, she said she was deeply distressed by what she described as the “kidnapping” of President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, who are now being held in the United States.

Rodríguez, who was previously Maduro’s vice president and a strong supporter of his government, had earlier spoken harshly against U.S. actions. However, her tone has since shifted, as she now calls for cooperation with the United States.

Under the new arrangement, Rodríguez is expected to work with U.S. representatives on rebuilding Venezuela’s oil industry. President Trump has said the goal is to repair the country’s damaged oil infrastructure and increase oil sales to other nations.

On the ground, many residents say life feels tense and heavily controlled. Armed, masked men are reported to be patrolling neighbourhoods, and military checkpoints have appeared throughout the city. According to the BBC, armed civilian groups are stopping people to check their phones for posts related to the situation and, in some cases, detaining those found sharing such content.

Foreign journalists are also not being allowed into the country. Local media groups report that several journalists were briefly detained earlier this week.