Landing in Caracas, it might seem that little has changed since the US strikes on 3 January and the seizure by US forces of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The airport walls are plastered with "wanted" posters for the last election's opposition candidate, Edmundo González, accusing him of violent acts. Roads are lined with billboards of Maduro and his wife, now bearing the hashtag: "We want them back."
On 3 March, a government rally marked two months since Maduro's arrest, with crowds donning T‑shirts bearing his face, repeating loyalist slogans.
"We have a constitutional president until his term expires who right now is a victim, a prisoner of war Venezuela didn't start, our priority is to recover him," one young protester Alí Rodríguez told the BBC.
But away from the main crowds, some wearing loyalist uniforms whispered a different story: they are public employees, obliged to attend, and still fear speaking freely.
"It's false. It's all a lie," said one 22‑year‑old worker, who asked for anonymity.
Elena, not her real name, said thousands of public workers are ordered to attend rallies or risk punishment. She and colleagues recently received a $150 bonus on top of their $120 monthly salary for turning up.
"Two of my colleagues didn't receive the bonus because they didn't go."
"You're taught you should always preach the truth, but in a country like Venezuela sometimes you have to practice self-censorship."
Since Maduro's arrest, former Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez has taken power and is closely co‑operating with the United States. Washington, once an adversary, now describes a "wonderful" relationship, citing some political prisoner releases and new oil and mining deals.
But many young Venezuelans, who have always been governed by the same political movement, doubt much has changed yet beyond Maduro's removal.
Elena believes a full clear‑out is needed, singling out the Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López as those who "most represent terror" and remain in post. Under Cabello, armed paramilitaries known as "colectivos" are used to intimidate the opposition.
"We have to get rid of these people. That's non‑negotiable," she said.
