WASHINGTON – A recent operation led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro,prompting a delicate situation as the U.S. goverment seeks to stabilize the nation and avoid further conflict. A confidential CIA assessment, requested by the White house, cautioned against supporting the democratic opposition promptly following Maduro’s removal, fearing it could escalate tensions according to the Wall Street journal.
Operation Absolute Resolve and the Shift in Strategy
The operation, dubbed “Absolute Resolve,” resulted in the seizure of Maduro and his wife over the weekend. In a surprising move, President Trump announced the governance would work with Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s vice president, now serving as interim president, rather than the leaders of the democratic opposition. This decision defied expectations and raised questions about the U.S.’s commitment to democratic principles in Venezuela.
The democratic opposition is led by Maria Corina Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Edmundo González Urrutia, who won the 2024 presidential election before it was allegedly stolen by Maduro.
Avoiding the Mistakes of the Past
Officials within the administration have indicated the decision to work with Rodríguez was a deliberate attempt to avoid repeating the errors made during the Iraq War. Specifically, they aim to avoid the “de-Baathification” process , which involved excluding members of Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath party from the interim government.This exclusion is believed to have fueled the insurgency following the invasion.The concern is that alienating those with existing power structures could lead to prolonged instability and resistance.
Limited Intelligence Sharing and Key Players
The CIA assessment was not widely circulated within the U.S. intelligence community. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi gabbard was reportedly largely absent from the deliberations and has not yet commented on the operation. The core team responsible for planning “Operation Absolute Resolve” included homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Dialog with Rodríguez and Concerns About a Deal
There are indications that trump’s team had prior communication with Delcy Rodríguez. While the president denies providing advance notice of Maduro’s removal, experts suggest a pragmatic calculation may be at play. Evan Ellis, a former State Department policy planner for Latin America, noted that a deal may have been struck, stating, “There may have been a cynical calculation that one can work with them.” Rodríguez previously engaged with both the Biden and Trump administrations, including richard Grenell, a top Trump aide.
The Road ahead and International Reactions
Notably, Rodríguez was not named in the federal indictment unsealed against Maduro and other senior officials. She was sworn in as interim president in a ceremony attended by diplomats from Russia, China, and Iran. Rodríguez has publicly offered a mixed message,balancing vows to resist foreign influence with a willingness to collaborate with Washington.
Machado, despite being in hiding, expressed hope for a democratic transition and offered to share her Nobel Peace Prize with Trump. “What he has done is historic,” she stated, vowing to return to Venezuela.
Venezuela: A Brief Overview
Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a South American nation heavily reliant on its petroleum sector . The country has experienced significant political polarization and maintains an anti-U.S. government stance.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. opted to work with Maduro’s handpicked successor, Delcy Rodríguez, rather than the democratic opposition.
- This decision was influenced by a desire to avoid repeating perceived mistakes made during the Iraq War.
- The operation and its aftermath raise questions about the future of democracy in Venezuela and the U.S.’s role in the region.
- Communication between the Trump administration and Rodríguez predates Maduro’s ouster.