After Maduro’s Capture, Venezuela Faces A Dangerous Question: Who Takes Power Next?

With Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro now in U.S. custody, a far more complex question emerges: what comes next for Venezuela? History shows that removing a leader is often easier than managing the aftermath, as seen in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington will oversee a temporary transition, but uncertainty looms. Acting leadership has shifted to Delcy Rodríguez, while opposition figures like Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado wait in the wings. Venezuela’s future remains unclear.