The Venezuelan Supreme Court has issued a ruling appointing Nicolás Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, as acting president following Maduro’s arrest in a U.S.-led military operation. The decision stated that Rodríguez would assume the interim presidency to ensure continuity of governance and the protection of national sovereignty.

The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court ordered that Delcy Rodríguez take over as acting president of the country in the absence of the president, who was detained early Saturday morning during a U.S. military operation.

The court ruling declared that Rodríguez would assume “the position of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in order to ensure the continuity of governance and the comprehensive defense of the nation.”

The ruling further stated that the court would deliberate on “establishing the applicable legal framework to guarantee the continuity of the state, the administration of government, and the defense of sovereignty in light of the forced absence of the President of the Republic.”