Venezuela’s political landscape shifted decisively on January 3, 2026, when American forces captured Nicolás Maduro, ending nearly 13 years of his rule and leaving his vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, as acting president. A veteran of the Chavista establishment, Rodríguez is governing under Washington’s three-phase plan of stabilization, recovery, and transition. Under her interim rule, Venezuela has restored diplomatic relations with the United States, released some political prisoners, opened the oil sector to foreign investment, and signed a package of energy agreements that includes a 100-year concession on 17 oil fields holding roughly 65 billion barrels of reserves. But authorities in Venezuela have declined to set an election date, María Corina Machado and Edmundo González remain outside the government-opposition talks, and June’s earthquakes, which killed more than 2,000 people, have hampered an already daunting recovery.
Join Hudson Institute for a panel that will examine how far Rodríguez’s interim government can advance the country’s economic recovery without an electoral mandate or political reforms, and how Washington’s approach will shape Venezuela’s democratic transition.
Join Hudson Institute for a conference with leaders from industry, government, academia, and defense to discuss the latest developments in the US-China AI competition.
Join House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-03) for a fireside discussion with Senior Fellow Nadia Schadlow on Congress’s role in revitalizing America’s defense industrial base.
Join Hudson Institute for a discussion of how the US can build a more resilient and flexible energetics base—one that can meet sustained demand while accelerating the development and fielding of new capabilities.
Hudson welcomes Karel Řehka, former chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, to discuss the changing security environment in Europe and its implications for the Czech Republic, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and the transatlantic alliance.
