While Trump is dealing with President Maduro, the Venezuelan Vice President is in Russia

Amid claims by US President Donald Trump that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been taken into US military custody, Reuters reports, citing four reliable sources, that Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez is in Russia. However, a voice recording of her was broadcast on state television, in which she demanded proof of the safety of President Maduro and his wife Cilia.

Although state media showed footage suggesting she was in the capital, Caracas, sources have confirmed that she is actually in Russia.

Meanwhile, three sources have confirmed that Delcy Rodriguez's brother and head of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, remains in Caracas. Although Delcy Rodriguez has commented to the media, Jorge Rodriguez has not yet appeared publicly since the events. US President Donald Trump had previously stated that Delcy Rodriguez had been sworn in as the new president and had expressed willingness to cooperate with the United States. However, Delcy Rodriguez strongly rejected that statement, asserting that Nicolas Maduro is the only president of Venezuela, even if he is in US military custody.

Delcy Rodriguez, 56, one of the most powerful figures in the Venezuelan government, is the daughter of Jorge Antonio Rodriguez, a leftist guerrilla fighter who founded the revolutionary 'Liga Socialista' party in the 1970s. Born in Caracas on May 18, 1969, she earned a law degree from the Central University of Venezuela. She has had a rapid rise in the country's politics over the past decade, serving as Minister of Information and Communication between 2013 and 2014, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2014 to 2017. During her tenure as Foreign Minister, she gained international attention for attempting to force her way into a Mercosur trade meeting in Buenos Aires, despite Venezuela's suspension from the bloc.

President Nicolas Maduro refers to her as a 'tigress' who is fiercely dedicated to defending the socialist government. Appointed Vice President in June 2018, Maduro described her as 'a brave woman, forged in a thousand battles, the daughter of a martyr'. She works very closely with her brother, Jorge Rodriguez, and also served as the head of the Constituent Assembly in 2017, which expanded Maduro's powers. She is also known for her strong interest in fashion.

In addition to her role as Vice President, she also holds the positions of Minister of Finance and Minister of Oil, playing a crucial role in managing Venezuela's economy. In August 2024, Maduro also appointed her Minister of Oil, entrusting her with the responsibility of managing American sanctions imposed against the country's primary industry, oil. She has also taken steps to work closely with the private sector, implementing traditional economic policies to control hyperinflation.

Although Trump declared that the country's control would fall under the United States after the US arrested Nicolas Maduro, Delcy Rodriguez's stance is that Maduro is still the country's leader. Although there is still no clear information regarding her exact whereabouts, critics say the contradiction between reports of her being in Russia and her appearances on state media will have a significant impact on the future political climate.