Following the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the Trump administration is now focusing on senior figures within Venezuela’s security and political hierarchy, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López, warning they must cooperate with U.S. demands or risk facing consequences similar to Maduro’s. U.S. officials are pushing Caracas to stabilise the country, revitalise its oil sector under U.S. terms, and sever ties with rivals such as China and Russia, while avoiding a power vacuum. Interim president Delcy Rodríguez remains central to Washington’s transition strategy, even as internal rivalries and uncertainty persist.