Delcy Rodríguez, the interim leader of Venezuela, has dismissed General Javier Marcano Tábata, who commanded the presidential honour guard, just days after President Nicolás Maduro was apprehended by US forces during a raid in the capital, Caracas.
This action may be linked to the circumstances surrounding Maduro’s capture by US Special Forces, who subsequently transported him to New York to face charges of narco-terrorism.
The presidential honour guard is responsible for protecting the head of state, but General Tábata apparently failed in his duties or was overwhelmed by a superior force. His dismissal marks one of the initial changes among senior officials within Rodríguez’s inner circle.
Compounding the situation, while the Venezuelan government has yet to provide a comprehensive account of casualties, members of the guard were believed to be among the numerous individuals killed during the US operation to capture Maduro.
Rodríguez was sworn in by the National Assembly, which is largely composed of government loyalists, on Monday. Previously serving as Maduro’s vice-president, she is regarded as a close ally of the beleaguered leader.
US President Donald Trump remarked at a press conference following Maduro’s capture that the United States would effectively “run” Venezuela and that discussions were ongoing with Rodríguez.
He further threatened that Rodríguez would face a “fate worse than Maduro’s” should she fail to comply with US demands, particularly regarding oil, of which Venezuela possesses the largest proven reserves in the world.
On Tuesday, the US president stated that Venezuela would be “turning over” up to 50 million barrels of oil to the US, although Venezuela’s interim government had yet to respond to this claim.
Rodríguez’s rhetoric has fluctuated between defiance and a conciliatory tone since her appointment as interim president by Venezuela’s Supreme Court. She condemned Maduro’s capture as an “illegal kidnapping” but also expressed her government’s willingness to “invite the US government to collaborate on a cooperative agenda.”
Her actions are being closely monitored both domestically and internationally to assess her direction now that she is at the helm of the country and to identify any potential fractures within her administration.
In addition to leading the presidential guard, General Marcano Tábata also headed Venezuela’s military counterintelligence unit, DGCIM.
