Two Women, One Power Broker: The Leaders Battling for Venezuela
TOI GLOBAL | Jan 16, 2026, 20:27 IST
Venezuela’s political transition after Nicolás Maduro’s capture has set the stage for a power struggle between opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado and interim president Delcy Rodríguez. While Machado seeks international legitimacy and democratic reform, Rodríguez has positioned herself as a pragmatic partner for Washington, gaining cautious approval from President Donald Trump. As the U.S. temporarily oversees the transition, Trump’s unpredictable stance may determine which leader shapes Venezuela’s next chapter.Venezuela’s political transition after Nicolás Maduro’s capture has set the stage for a power struggle between opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado and interim president Delcy Rodríguez. While Machado seeks international legitimacy and democratic reform, Rodríguez has positioned herself as a pragmatic partner for Washington, gaining cautious approval from President Donald Trump. As the U.S. temporarily oversees the transition, Trump’s unpredictable stance may determine which leader shapes Venezuela’s next chapter.
Venezuelas future is being shaped not just in Caracas as Cuba comes out of the Catastrophic Collapse of Nicolas Maduros rule and out from under Cubas Military Rule, The Power Struggles of 2 Women has taken shape, each woman fighting to win over the support of a volatile and Arbitrarily Deciding Leader, President Donald Trump.
María Corina Machado, the opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, spent years fighting against Maduro's oppressive regime. Many in the United States continue to recognize her as an important figure of Resistance, even after Nicolás Maduro's disputed 2024 election victory; during which time the U.S. Military suddenly captured Nicolás Maduro one day prior to the presidential election.
Delcy Rodríguez was Maduro's former Vice President and is currently acting President of Venezuela. An Insider of the regime for decades, Delcy Rodriguez represents some sense of stability for some Americans and for other nations, especially the United States; who are very concerned about political unrest that could occur in the South American countries that contain the #1 Largest Oil Reserve in the World.
María Corina Machado, the opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, spent years fighting against Maduro's oppressive regime. Many in the United States continue to recognize her as an important figure of Resistance, even after Nicolás Maduro's disputed 2024 election victory; during which time the U.S. Military suddenly captured Nicolás Maduro one day prior to the presidential election.
Delcy Rodríguez was Maduro's former Vice President and is currently acting President of Venezuela. An Insider of the regime for decades, Delcy Rodriguez represents some sense of stability for some Americans and for other nations, especially the United States; who are very concerned about political unrest that could occur in the South American countries that contain the #1 Largest Oil Reserve in the World.