Venezuela's Post-Maduro Transition: US-Supervised Economic Reform Under PSUV Control

Four months after US forces captured Nicolás Maduro in January 2026, interim President Delcy Rodríguez has initiated a strategic transformation of Venezuela. Adopting a model described as 'China-style reform without politics,' the administration prioritizes economic liberalization while maintaining strict political control through the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Key actions include replacing thirteen ministers, dissolving state intelligence structures, and reopening hydrocarbon and mining sectors to private investment under US Treasury supervision. While sanctions against Rodríguez were lifted and oil revenues are now routed through Washington-controlled accounts, the PSUV retains dominance over military, judicial, and legislative institutions. Opposition leader María Corina Machado remains marginalized from decision-making processes, having refused to endorse the current reforms. This transition represents a managed shift toward a commodity-extraction economy backed by international capital, rather than a democratic opening. The US requires pre-approval for any agreements with China, Russia, or Iran, ensuring geopolitical alignment. The situation presents a complex scenario where authoritarian continuity facilitates investor predictability, raising questions among global powers about the long-term implications of this engineered stability.