Venezuela’s civil-military alliance is being stretched — if it breaks, numerous armed groups may be drawn into messy split

How various factions respond to the Trump administration’s threat to be the de facto ruler of the country could quickly inflame domestic tensions and lead to conflict.

By: Rebecca Hanson, University of Florida and Verónica Zubillaga, University of Illinois Chicago, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 6, 2026

Words: 1,652

Last Updated: 2 days, 13 hours ago

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By Rebecca Hanson, University of Florida and Verónica Zubillaga, University of Illinois Chicago

The immediate political void left in Venezuela by Nicolás Maduro’s abrupt removal from power has been filled by the former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in as interim president on Jan. 5, 2026.

But the situation is far from stable. Rodríguez represents just one of multiple and competing interests within a Venezuela elite composed of a precarious

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