- “Maduro’s security ring was full of Cubans,” according to Marco Rubio, who issued a warning to Havana.
- Vice President Delcy Rodríguez’s role could only be limited to facilitating an orderly exit
14ymedio, Havana, 3 January 2025 — “We are going to run Venezuela” until “a safe, proper and judicious transition” can be ensured, US President Donald Trump declared this Friday from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. During a lengthy press conference, the president offered details about the capture of Nicolás Maduro, the immediate future of the South American country, and the role the United States will play in the post-Chavista era. Secretary of State Marco Rubio went further, issuing a direct warning to the Cuban regime: “They should be worried.”
US President Donald Trump has said the US will “run” Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” can be ensured
The operation that precipitated this historic turning point began in the early hours of January 3, when U.S. armed forces carried out a large-scale military action on Venezuelan territory. The stated objective was the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both accused by Washington of narcoterrorism and other federal crimes. The operation, dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve” by official sources, began around 10:46 p.m. Caracas time (9:46 p.m. in Havana) and combined targeted airstrikes with a ground incursion by special forces into the Venezuelan capital.
According to the White House, the initial bombings were aimed at neutralizing anti-aircraft defenses and command centers, clearing the way for the entry of elite units. After this first phase, U.S. special forces penetrated the perimeter where Maduro was located and captured him and Flores within minutes. There were exchanges of fire with forces loyal to Chavismo, although neither Washington nor Caracas has confirmed any casualties. The United States stated that it suffered no losses among its troops, although it acknowledged that an aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and returned to base damaged. “Maduro’s security ring was full of Cubans,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted.
Once detained, Maduro and his wife were transported by military helicopters to an extraction point in international waters, where the U.S. Navy ship Iwo Jima was waiting. Images released by Trump himself showed the Venezuelan president in handcuffs and in U.S. custody. According to the president, during the transfer they were informed that they would face legal proceedings in federal courts in New York, where both had been indicted since 2020 on charges related to drug trafficking and criminal conspiracy.
Trump asserted that the country will remain under US supervision until a political transition deemed safe and orderly by Washington is established.
Venezuela, Trump asserted, had become a “narco-state” under Maduro, exporting drugs, violence, and instability for years. The capture of the Chavista leader, he maintained, puts an end to “decades of impunity.”
The president acknowledged that he did not inform Congress beforehand about the scale of the operation. He justified this by citing security reasons and the need to prevent leaks. “If it leaks, the mission fails,” he said, while emphasizing that he acted within his authority as commander-in-chief.
Trump was particularly explicit when referring to Venezuela’s immediate future. He asserted that the country would remain under US supervision until a political transition deemed safe and orderly by Washington was established. He warned that any attempt by Chavista factions to fill the power vacuum left by Maduro could trigger a second, “much larger” military operation.
The president did not rule out a prolonged military presence, including the possibility of ground troops if the situation warrants it. He also announced that U.S. companies would play a central role in revitalizing Venezuela’s oil industry, whose revenues, he explained, would finance the country’s reconstruction and support the interim administration.
Adding to the confusion are Trump’s allusions to Delcy Rodríguez, whom he referred to as part of Maduro’s inner circle, and to opposition leader María Corina Machado. The president stated that Rodríguez’s circle had expressed a willingness to cooperate with the United States. However, in her subsequent public statements, Rodríguez has continued to condemn the situation and reiterate that Maduro is “the only president of Venezuela.”
Trump also mentioned Machado with condescending remarks, noting that she is “a very nice woman,” but without presenting her as a clear figure to lead the transition. Statements by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who avoided identifying any specific opposition leadership, have contributed to the uncertainty surrounding who the United States can count on to guide the transition process.
The Secretary of State confirmed that Washington maintains communication with leaders of the democratic opposition, including María Corina Machado
For his part, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that there had been exploratory contacts from Rodríguez’s camp, although he stressed that these were neither negotiations nor political recognition. Rubio was emphatic in stating that the vice president is not considered a suitable figure to lead a democratic transition and that, at best, her role could only be limited to facilitating an orderly exit. Any attempt to perpetuate Chavismo, he warned, would be met with further actions.
On the diplomatic front, Rubio coordinated contacts with Venezuelan actors and international allies. The Secretary of State confirmed that Washington maintains communication with leaders of the democratic opposition, including María Corina Machado, whom he described as a key figure in the opposition movement. He indicated that the talks focus on an orderly transition and institutional reconstruction, though he avoided specifying whether Machado would hold a formal position.
The Cuban chapter was also present at the press conference. Trump described Cuba as a historical ally of Chavismo and part of the network that sustained Maduro for years. He called the situation on the island “grave” and an example of political and economic failure that “we’re going to end up talking about.” Rubio was even more direct: “Take note. What has happened in Caracas should serve as a warning.”
Without announcing specific measures, Trump hinted that Cuba is part of the regional analysis following Maduro’s fall. His words suggest a hardening of rhetoric and a possible review of policies toward governments allied with Chavismo.
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