The general in command of Venezuela's presidential honour guard, Javier Marcano Tábata, has been sacked days after Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was seized by US forces in a raid in Caracas and taken to New York to stand trial on narco-terrorism charges. The presidential honour guard is the military force which provides the bodyguards tasked with protecting the head of state.
While the Venezuelan government has not yet provided a detailed breakdown of casualties, members of the guard are thought to be among the dozens of people killed in the US operation to seize Maduro. The order to replace Gen Marcano Tábata was issued by the new interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in by the National Assembly on Monday, which is dominated by government loyalists.
Rodríguez, who served as Maduro's vice-president and is considered to be a close ally of the jailed leader, has been navigating a complex political landscape following Maduro's capture. US President Donald Trump claimed that the United States would run Venezuela and communicated with Rodríguez shortly after the event, threatening that she would face dire consequences if she did not comply with US demands, including oil concessions.
The sacking of Gen Marcano Tábata marks one of the first significant changes under Rodríguez's interim leadership. Analysts suggest that his removal might be linked to the honour guard's inability to prevent Maduro's dramatic capture. She appointed Gustavo González López, a figure with a controversial background as head of the national intelligence service, to succeed Marcano.
The political implications of these changes are being observed closely, both within Venezuela and internationally, as Rodríguez seeks to solidify her power amidst the ongoing threat of US operations in the region. The fallout from Maduro's seizure has already claimed the lives of numerous Venezuelan military members, and the interim government’s response may shape the future trajectory of Venezuela’s governance.
While the Venezuelan government has not yet provided a detailed breakdown of casualties, members of the guard are thought to be among the dozens of people killed in the US operation to seize Maduro. The order to replace Gen Marcano Tábata was issued by the new interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in by the National Assembly on Monday, which is dominated by government loyalists.
Rodríguez, who served as Maduro's vice-president and is considered to be a close ally of the jailed leader, has been navigating a complex political landscape following Maduro's capture. US President Donald Trump claimed that the United States would run Venezuela and communicated with Rodríguez shortly after the event, threatening that she would face dire consequences if she did not comply with US demands, including oil concessions.
The sacking of Gen Marcano Tábata marks one of the first significant changes under Rodríguez's interim leadership. Analysts suggest that his removal might be linked to the honour guard's inability to prevent Maduro's dramatic capture. She appointed Gustavo González López, a figure with a controversial background as head of the national intelligence service, to succeed Marcano.
The political implications of these changes are being observed closely, both within Venezuela and internationally, as Rodríguez seeks to solidify her power amidst the ongoing threat of US operations in the region. The fallout from Maduro's seizure has already claimed the lives of numerous Venezuelan military members, and the interim government’s response may shape the future trajectory of Venezuela’s governance.
