On January 3, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was appointed by the Venezuelan Supreme Court to hold the role of interim President, after President Nicolas Maduro was arrested in a military campaign conducted by the US.
The court stated that Ms. Rodriguez will assume "the position of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to ensure the continuity of the nation's comprehensive administrative and defense.
The court said it will continue to discuss to "determine a suitable legal framework, ensuring the continuity of the State, government administration and sovereignty protection in the context of the President of the Republic being forced to be absent".
Previously, Ms. Rodriguez convened the National Defense Council, immediately after the US announced the launch of a military campaign in Venezuela and arrested President Maduro.
She emphasized that Venezuela is ready to protect its sovereignty and resources.
According to the latest updated data from a senior Venezuelan official, at least 40 people, including soldiers and civilians, were killed in the US attack on January 3. Previously, Ms. Rodriguez also confirmed casualties, but has not announced specific figures.
The US military move has faced a wave of criticism from the international community, with many countries and organizations calling for respect for international law and avoiding escalating tensions. Australia and New Zealand expressed concern, emphasized the role of dialogue and diplomatic solutions, and supported a peaceful and democratic transition process in Venezuela.
The United Nations also warned. Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk emphasized that protecting the Venezuelan people must be a consistent principle for all actions, while Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is concerned about the risk of regional instability and dangerous precedents from military action. Faced with this development, Venezuela has officially requested the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting, scheduled to take place on January 5.
