Venezuela’s Interim Leader Replaces Defense Minister With Counterintelligence Chief

Overview

• Interim president Delcy Rodríguez dismissed Vladimir Padrino after more than a decade leading the Defense Ministry, announcing the move in an official message.
• Rodríguez appointed Gustavo González López as defense minister, elevating the former presidential guard and counterintelligence chief.
• Following reports that Nicolás Maduro was ousted on January 3 in a U.S. military operation, the armed forces have publicly pledged loyalty to Rodríguez.
• Padrino had served since 2014 and was widely viewed as Maduro’s principal ally within the military hierarchy.
• Venezuela’s military oversees mining, oil, customs and food distribution, making changes at the top of the ministry consequential for control of strategic levers of the state.