Earlier on Saturday, Delcy Rodríguez suggested that Israel bore partial responsibility for the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro, accusing foreign actors of orchestrating what she described as an assault on Venezuela’s sovereignty.
That same day, Venezuela’s Supreme Court directed Vice President Rodríguez to step in as acting president following Maduro’s capture during a pre-dawn military operation carried out by the United States.
In a decision released by the court’s Constitutional Chamber, the justices stated that Rodríguez would temporarily take over “the duties of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to ensure continuity in governance and the full defence of the Nation.”
The court further noted that it would continue to assess the unfolding developments in order to “establish the appropriate legal mechanisms to preserve the continuity of the State, the functioning of government, and the protection of national sovereignty in light of the President’s forced absence.”
Speaking earlier on Saturday, Rodríguez again pointed to Israel, alleging external involvement in Maduro’s detention and framing the incident as a hostile action against the country.
“In governments around the world, there is shock that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has become the victim of an attack of this magnitude, one that clearly carries Zionist implications,” Rodríguez said during a televised address in which she convened a meeting of the National Defence Council. “It is deeply disgraceful.”
Meanwhile, official White House social media accounts circulated video footage showing Maduro being escorted through a Drug Enforcement Administration facility in New York City. The post accompanying the footage read simply, “Perp walked.”
As events continued to unfold, the U.S. State Department reaffirmed its highest travel advisory for Venezuela, maintaining a Level 4: Do Not Travel warning over what it described as serious dangers to American citizens.
In a security notice dated January 3, the U.S. Embassy cautioned Americans against traveling to Venezuela, emphasizing that conditions on the ground “remain fluid.”
Operating from Bogotá, Colombia, the embassy stated that commercial air travel to and from Venezuela has been suspended and advised U.S. nationals currently in the country to exercise caution and stay alert to their surroundings.
“Venezuela remains under a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory due to extreme risks to Americans, including wrongful detention, torture while in custody, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary law enforcement, violent crime, civil unrest, and inadequate health infrastructure,” the notice said.
The State Department also recalled that it withdrew all diplomatic staff from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas in March 2019 and halted embassy operations.
“All routine and emergency consular services remain suspended,” the statement added, noting that the U.S. government is unable to provide emergency assistance to citizens in Venezuela.
Americans were once again urged to avoid travel to the country, while those already there were advised to establish multiple communication channels with contacts outside Venezuela and register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive security alerts and updates.