Gustavo González López
Defense Minister of Venezuela — in office since 2026-03-18
At a glance
General Gustavo González López is Venezuela's Defense Minister, appointed by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez on March 18, 2026 to replace Vladimir Padrino López. A U.S.-trained intelligence officer, he was previously head of the DGCIM and SEBIN.
Who is Gustavo González López?
Gustavo Enrique González López is a 65-year-old Venezuelan general who was appointed Minister of Defense on March 18, 2026 by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, replacing Vladimir Padrino López after Padrino's 11-year tenure. The appointment is the most consequential cabinet move so far of the Rodríguez transition government — replacing the uniformed figure who held the FANB together under Maduro with a Rodríguez-aligned intelligence chief.
González López's background is in intelligence rather than operational command. He served as Venezuela's domestic intelligence director (SEBIN) until mid-2024, then worked with Rodríguez as head of strategic affairs at PDVSA. After the U.S. capture of Maduro on January 3, 2026, Rodríguez promoted him to head the DGCIM (military counterintelligence) and the Presidential Honor Guard before elevating him to the Defense Ministry in March.
González López is sanctioned by the U.S. and the EU for human-rights abuses connected to his time leading SEBIN.
Also known as: Gustavo Enrique González López.
Career timeline
- ?–2024 — Director of SEBIN (Venezuelan domestic intelligence)
- 2024 — Head of strategic affairs at PDVSA
- 2026 — Appointed director of DGCIM and head of the Presidential Honor Guard by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez (January)
- 2026 — Appointed Minister of Defense on March 18, replacing Vladimir Padrino López
Network & connections
The following figures are part of Gustavo González López's direct political, cabinet, or institutional network — useful for compliance teams mapping the wider Venezuelan power structure:
Frequently asked questions
▸ Who is Gustavo González López?
▸ Why was González López appointed Defense Minister?
Sources & further reading
- NBC News — Venezuela's acting president replaces longtime defense minister with intelligence head
- Al Jazeera — Delcy Rodriguez replaces Padrino
- PBS NewsHour — Venezuela's acting president names new defense chief
Useful tools and explainers
- Browse all active OFAC Venezuela SDN designations — the live US Treasury tracker for individuals, entities, vessels, and aircraft.
- OFAC Venezuela sanctions checker — paste any name to check it against the active SDN list.
- How to invest in Venezuela (2026 sanctions-safe guide)
- Browse all Venezuelan power figures
Other military & security
FANB high command, GNB, DGCIM, SEBIN, and the armed-forces leadership.
Diosdado Cabello
Diosdado Cabello is Minister of Interior, Justice, and Peace and the PSUV's first vice president — long considered the second most powerful figure in the Venezuelan government.
Open profile MILITARY & SECURITYDomingo Hernández Lárez
General-in-Chief Domingo Hernández Lárez served as the Strategic Operational Commander of Venezuela's Bolivarian National Armed Forces (CEOFANB) from 2021 until March 19, 2026, when he was dismissed by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez and replaced by Major General Rafael Prieto Martínez.
Open profile MILITARY & SECURITYHenry Rangel Silva
General-in-Chief Henry Rangel Silva is a former Defense Minister and former governor of Trujillo state, one of the longest-serving senior military figures in the Bolivarian government.
Open profile