CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela’s military on Sunday recognised Delcy Rodriguez, deputy to ousted President Nicolas Maduro, as the country’s acting leader, after US forces extracted the former head of State to face trial.

Amid uncertainty following the leftist president’s dramatic capture, Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez appeared to throw his weight behind Rodriguez, who US President Donald Trump had earlier indicated is a figure Washington could work with.

Padrino Lopez read out a statement on television endorsing a Supreme Court ruling that appointed Rodriguez as acting president for 90 days.

He also called on Venezuelans to get back to their daily life, speaking less than two days after the US strikes shook the capital Caracas and American special forces seized Maduro and his wife.

Padrino Lopez denounced it as a, “cowardly kidnapping”, and said that some of Maduro’s bodyguards were killed “in cold blood”, as well as military personnel and civilians on the Venezuelan side.

Venezuelan authorities have not yet given an official toll for people hurt or killed in the US operations.

The streets of Caracas were deserted and quiet on Sunday, with many businesses closed and moderate queues at some markets and pharmacies.

“I call on the people of Venezuela to resume their activities of all kinds — economic, work and education — in the coming days,” Padrino Lopez said.

“The homeland must follow its constitutional course,” added Padrino Lopez.

Map showing Venezuela, the United States, and the different moments of American operation Absolute Resolve that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, 2026.(Graphic by AFP)