José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has made a strategic visit to Caracas under the guise of participating in the amnesty commission, but his main purpose appears to be to promote his advisor, Miguel Rodríguez Torres, as a candidate for the new Minister of Defense. This development follows significant political changes in Venezuela, including the recent capture of Nicolás Maduro, suggesting a potential shift in military support for the new government under Delcy Rodríguez.

Rodríguez Torres, a former general who has sought asylum in Madrid, could bolster military backing for Delcy Rodríguez, the acting president. However, his nomination may meet resistance from Washington, given his controversial past as the head of the intelligence agency, Sebin. This tension highlights the complexities of international relations surrounding Venezuela, especially as various actors vie for influence in a country struggling with political instability.

This maneuvering by Zapatero emphasizes the ongoing power struggles within Venezuela's political landscape. His efforts to introduce Rodríguez Torres into a high-ranking military position could shape the dynamics of military strategy in support of the interim government, but it simultaneously complicates Venezuela's relationship with key foreign stakeholders, notably the United States, which remains critical of the actions of Maduro and his affiliates.