Delcy Rodriguez was in discussions with US before Maduro capture: Report

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodriguez and her brother Jorge Rodriguez assured US and Qatari officials of their willingness to cooperate with the Trump administration before the US-led capture of Nicols Maduro earlier this month, The Guardian reported, citing high-level sources. The pledges, made in secret through intermediaries, came ahead of the dramatic military operation that removed Maduro from power in Caracas on January 3.

Delcy Rodriguez, sworn in as acting president just two days after Maduro's theatrical capture, and Jorge Rodriguez, head of the Assembly, conveyed that they would welcome Maduro’s departure, but stopped short of directly assisting in his removal.

The report further cited sources, who emphasised that while the Rodriguez family promised to help once Maduro was gone, they did not agree to actively topple him.

The discussions began in the fall, following a phone call in late November in which President Donald Trump insisted that Maduro leave Venezuela.

Maduro refused these demands, but by December, an American official involved stated, "Delcy was communicating 'Maduro needs to go''.

One person familiar with the messages added, "She said, 'I'll work with whatever is the aftermath,'" highlighting Rodriguez’s readiness to deal with the consequences, following Maduro’s removal.

Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State and Security Adviser, was initially sceptical about engaging with regime insiders.

However, the report indicated he came to believe that Delcy Rodriguez’s assurances offered the best chance to prevent chaos following Maduro’s ouster.

Hours after the raid that resulted in Maduro’s detention, Trump told the New York Post, "We've spoken to her numerous times, and she understands, she understands".

The Venezuelan government labelled the reports of such cooperation as "fake" in a post on X, but did not provide further details.

Official and backchannel communications between US officials and the Maduro-led government occurred alongside these secret assurances.

In October, Delcy Rodriguez had offered, via Qatar, to lead a transitional government if Maduro stepped down, according to reporting cited in the Miami Herald. The offer was not accepted.

News agency Reuters later reported that Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela’s powerful interior minister, had also held talks with US officials months before the operation to remove Maduro.

Delcy Rodriguez reportedly maintained close ties with Qatari officials, which facilitated some of the secret negotiations.

The report said Qatar, a US ally, leveraged its influence in Washington to support Rodriguez’s efforts.

A primary US objective was to ensure Venezuela did not become a failed state post-Maduro. One source said, "the biggest thing was trying to avoid a failed state".

Delcy Rodriguez’s willingness to work with US oil companies was cited as a factor in her acceptance by some American officials.

As one ally stated, "Delcy is the most committed to working with US oil," underscoring her perceived pragmatism in economic matters.

Despite the willingness to cooperate, sources stressed that the Rodriguez siblings did not conspire to overthrow Maduro.

"She feared him," said an official familiar with the events, reflecting the risks of internal dissent within the Venezuelan leadership.

When US military helicopters arrived in Caracas in early January, Delcy Rodriguez was reportedly absent from the capital.

While some rumours suggested she fled to Moscow, The Guardian's sources indicated she was on Margarita Island, a Venezuelan holiday destination.

Following Maduro’s capture, Trump declared, "We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," and added that the "extremely successful operation should serve as a warning to anyone who would threaten American sovereignty or endanger American lives".

Jorge Rodriguez, meanwhile, was reappointed as president of the Assembly, where he pledged "to use all procedures, forums and spaces" to bring Maduro back.

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