Venezuela Reshuffles Cabinet Amid Political Transition

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced a sweeping cabinet reshuffle on March 18, 2026, appointing General Gustavo González López as the new defense minister to replace Vladimir Padrino López, who had held the position since 2014. The changes, outlined in official statements, affect several key sectors including energy, housing, transportation, and labor, signaling efforts to reorganize the government amid an ongoing political transition.

Rodríguez expressed gratitude to Padrino for his "loyalty to the nation" and described him as "the first soldier in the defense of our country" over the years. She indicated that he would assume unspecified new responsibilities, though no further details were provided. González, a 1982 graduate of the Venezuelan Military Academy, brings extensive experience in military command and intelligence. He previously served as commander of the Bolivarian Militia in 2011, director of the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence, and head of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service during two periods from 2015 to 2018 and 2019 to 2024. Since January 6, 2026, he had led the Presidential Honor Guard. Born in 1960, González has...