Delcy Rodríguez assumed the role of Venezuela’s acting president in January 2026 following the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro, with initial military backing and a high-court mandate that has since been extended beyond its 90-day limit. She has consolidated authority by replacing senior military commanders, extraditing select Maduro allies, and pursuing economic openings that have attracted U.S. investment and sanctions relief while maintaining core Chavista structures. Recent developments include the June 2026 earthquakes that killed over 5,000 and strained government response capacity, alongside the resumption of U.S.-backed transition talks with opposition factions in early August. These factors, combined with ongoing U.S. leverage over stabilization and potential elections, shape trader assessments of whether internal coalition pressures, opposition demands, or external diplomatic timelines will prompt her removal from leadership.