Washington has three ways to provide sanctions relief to the country and PDVSA. The cases of Syria, Sudan, and Iraq serve as historical references.

With Maduro removed, the U.S. faces the difficult task of limiting the influence of China, Russia and Iran without triggering instability.

Venezuela's former First Lady was "a perfect enabler for [Nicolás] Maduro to perpetuate himself in power," said AQ's managing editor.

Andrés Martínez-Fernández of the Heritage Foundation on what the capture of Nicolás Maduro might mean for the country and beyond.

Es clave "lograr primero una senda de institucionalidad, que haya un marco legal con más transparencia", dice Guillermo Zubillaga, de AS/COA, a EFE.

The "balancing act" that Delcy Rodríguez is facing is "difficult to maneuver," said the Americas Quarterly managing editor.

Agenda Pública named the AS/COA's vice president in its roundup of influential figures to look out for as events in Venezuela unfold.