Venezuela Replaces Defense Minister

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez has dismissed Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López and appointed General Gustavo González López as his successor in a sweeping cabinet reshuffle.

Rodríguez announced the decision on Telegram, confirming that the new defense minister assumed office immediately while expressing appreciation for Padrino López’s service and loyalty. She also indicated he could be assigned new responsibilities in the future.

The move comes more than 10 weeks after Rodríguez took office as interim leader following a US military operation on January 3 that led to the arrest of former president Nicolás Maduro, who now faces drug trafficking charges in the United States.

The reshuffle unfolds amid mounting pressure from the administration of Donald Trump on officials aligned with Maduro, who continue to hold key positions in the oil-rich nation.

Padrino López had been one of the longest-serving figures in Venezuela’s government, holding the defense portfolio since 2014 and playing a central role in maintaining military support for Maduro since he came to power in 2013.

His successor, González López, brings extensive intelligence experience but has previously faced US sanctions over his role in suppressing protests in 2014. Since early January, he had served as head of the presidential guard and chief of military counterintelligence.

Rodríguez also appointed General Enrique Navas Rombos as the new commander of the presidential guard and Germán Gómez Lárez as head of military intelligence, signaling a broader restructuring of Venezuela’s security leadership.