Ex-Maduro Bodyguard Given Senior Role in Venezuela’s Interim Government
Venezuela's new interim leader appoints Maduro's former bodyguard to key ministerial role.
Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez has appointed Captain Juan Escalona, a former bodyguard of ousted leader Nicolas Maduro, as Minister of the Presidential Office. The position oversees the leader's schedule and coordinates with various state institutions. The appointment marks one of the initial cabinet reshuffles under Rodriguez's administration following significant political upheaval.
Escalona previously served as an aide to former president Hugo Chavez before joining Maduro's personal security detail. He remained in that role until Maduro's capture on January 3 during a US bombing raid on Caracas, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 55 security personnel, including 32 Cuban operatives assigned under bilateral security arrangements. Escalona's attendance at Rodriguez's inaugural cabinet meeting last week confirmed his survival and dispelled circulating reports of his death in the strike.
The reshuffle extends beyond Escalona's promotion, with Rodriguez replacing the commander of the presidential guard—who oversees a critical counterintelligence unit—and designating a new economic minister. Another military figure, Anibal Coronado, has been named environment minister. These changes occur as the interim government faces mounting external pressure, particularly from the United States, to facilitate negotiations over access to Venezuela's substantial oil reserves.
Also Read: Protests Erupt Across Venezuela Following US Capture of President Maduro and Wife
Rodriguez publicly announced the appointments via Telegram, commending Escalona for his demonstrated loyalty and extensive professional background. The selections reflect an effort to consolidate authority amid ongoing instability and questions surrounding potential internal betrayals within Maduro's former circle. Some supporters of the deposed leader have claimed that a close associate facilitated his downfall.
Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, remain detained in New York, where they face federal drug-trafficking charges that both have rejected. US President Donald Trump has declared that his administration is effectively "in charge" of Venezuela and expressed willingness to collaborate with Rodriguez, including hints of a possible direct meeting. The developments signal a rapid reconfiguration of power in Caracas under intense international scrutiny.
