Whether Trump or Rodriguez, running Venezuela will need the help of its military, which has incentives to strike a deal.

Delcy Rodríguez got American help with the return of an oil tanker linked to one of her political rivals that had left the country without authorization.

Several Democrats have claimed that the Trump administration's Jan. 3 military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, was “illegal,” violating both domestic and international law.

Delcy Rodriguez, who is next in the presidential line of succession, served as Nicolas Maduro's vice president since 2018.

The Senate on Thursday delivered a stinging rebuke to President Donald Trump’s Venezuela action, moving ahead with a bid by Sen. Adam Schiff and his colleagues to bar the use of U.S. military forces to act in or against Venezuela unless Congress gives its consent.

National security experts identify potential targets for future U.S. military action following Venezuela operations, including Colombia and Cuba.

A think tank reported in June that Venezuela's radar fleet suffered shortages of spare parts amid "minimum" Chinese tech support.

Cuba confirms 32 intelligence personnel killed in U.S. operation that seized Maduro, exposing extensive Cuban involvement in Venezuela's military systems.