José Enrique Arrioja on ABC News Regarding the Challenges for Venezuela's New Leadership

In an ABC News interview, José Enrique Arrioja, managing editor of Americas Quarterly, spoke with anchor Alex Presha about the political landscape in Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro and the swearing in of Delcy Rodríguez, who served as Maduro's vice president, as the new leader.

Arrioja referenced his recent Americas Quarterly article noting that the events leading to Maduro's capture serve as a "cautionary tale" for the new leadership. He said that to achieve a successful transition, the interim government must sever ties with the regime's core allies—specifically Iran, China, Russia, and Cuba. The managing editor also said that the interim president needs to address human rights, as there are 800 political prisoners still in jail. "These decisions are key in order for the interim president to navigate, in some ways, successfully, the current transition," said Arrioja.

When asked about how Rodríguez should handle the relationship with the United States, Arrioja stated that the "balancing act" that the interim leader is facing is "difficult to maneuver." The expert also referenced the announcement by Washington that it will control Venezuela's oil sales indefinitely and how this can play out for Rodríguez.

"The U.S. and the Venezuelan regime already reached an agreement on oil sales to the U.S. And in this process, which is still very, very recent, is going to be key to continue monitoring in the days to come because it will show the pragmatic approach that Delcy Rodríguez will take when it comes to interacting with the U.S.," said Arrioja.

Watch the full interview.