Mon Jan 19 17:49:25 UTC 2026: ### U.S. Engaged with Key Maduro Ally Prior to and After Venezuelan President’s Ouster
The Story:
The Trump administration had been in communication with Venezuela’s hardline Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello for months before the January 3, 2026, U.S. operation that seized President Nicolas Maduro, and has remained in contact with him since. Despite being named in the same U.S. drug-trafficking indictment used to justify Maduro‘s arrest, Cabello was not apprehended. The U.S. is relying on Cabello to maintain stability during a transition period, particularly regarding access to Venezuela’s oil reserves, while interim President Delcy Rodriguez attempts to consolidate her own power. However, U.S. officials are concerned that Cabello, with his history of repression and rivalry with Rodriguez, could destabilize the situation.
Key Points:
* The Trump administration communicated with Diosdado Cabello before and after the ouster of Nicolas Maduro.
* Cabello, despite being indicted for drug trafficking, was not arrested during the U.S. operation.
* The U.S. views Cabello as crucial for maintaining stability in Venezuela and accessing its oil reserves.
* U.S. officials are concerned that Cabello could disrupt the transition due to his history of repression and rivalry with interim President Delcy Rodriguez.
* Elliott Abrams, former special representative on Venezuela, suggests Cabello‘s removal would signal a genuine shift in the regime.
Key Takeaways:
* The U.S. strategy in Venezuela appears to involve a degree of pragmatism, relying on figures within the previous regime, like Cabello, to ensure a smoother transition and continued access to oil.
* The U.S. is attempting to balance the need for stability with the desire for democratic change, a tension evident in their engagement with a controversial figure like Cabello.
* The long-term success of the U.S. plan hinges on the ability of interim President Rodriguez to consolidate power and address internal threats, particularly from Cabello.
* The article highlights a level of duplicity in the stated goals versus the actions undertaken as Cabello, a wanted man, is being negotiated with.
* The absence of a response from the White House regarding these communications raises further questions about the U.S.’s true intentions in Venezuela.
First Piper 