Trump Administration’s Contact with Venezuelan Minister
In recent months, officials from the Trump administration engaged in discussions with Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela’s hardline Interior Minister, ahead of the U.S. operation aimed at capturing President Nicolás Maduro. These communications have continued since that time, as per sources familiar with the situation.
Reportedly, administration officials cautioned Cabello, who is 62, against mobilizing the security services he oversees or the radical ruling party supporters against dissenters. Notably, the state’s security framework, including military and police forces, remained mainly intact after an attack by U.S. forces on January 3.
While Cabello appeared in a U.S. drug trafficking indictment that was used to justify Maduro’s arrest, he was not part of the operation.
The dialogues with Cabello initially began in the early Trump administration and persisted leading up to the U.S. efforts to remove Maduro. These conversations included topics like U.S. sanctions against him and his indictment.
Even after Maduro’s removal, the administration has maintained contact with Cabello, according to multiple sources.
This communication, which hasn’t been reported before, is seen as vital for the Trump administration’s strategy in Venezuela. If Cabello were to relinquish control, it could lead to chaos, something Trump aims to avoid, potentially endangering interim President Delcy Rodriguez’s hold on power, according to individuals familiar with U.S. concerns.
It’s still uncertain whether discussions regarding Venezuela’s future governance were part of these talks. Also, whether Cabello adhered to U.S. recommendations is unknown. He has expressed public solidarity with Rodriguez, whom Trump has previously praised.
The U.S. government views Rodriguez as a crucial figure in Trump’s vision for a post-Maduro Venezuela, but many believe Cabello holds the power to significantly affect or derail that plan.
Sources indicate that Cabello has communicated with the Trump administration, either directly or through intermediaries.
All individuals providing information were granted anonymity to speak on sensitive matters regarding communications with Cabello.
Neither the White House nor the Venezuelan government provided responses to inquiries regarding these discussions.
Cabello’s Role and Influence
Cabello has long been regarded as the second most powerful individual in Venezuela. A close associate of the late president Hugo Chávez, he has been a committed supporter of Maduro and is feared as the enforcer of government crackdowns. Although both Cabello and Rodriguez have been involved in politics for many years, they are not particularly close allies.
A former military officer, Cabello wields significant influence over the military and intelligence services in Venezuela, overseeing extensive domestic surveillance. He maintains connections with pro-government militias, especially groups known as colectivos, which involve armed civilians who target protestors.
He is perceived as one of the few Maduro loyalists that the U.S. is counting on to maintain stability and ensure access to Venezuela’s oil reserves during a transitional phase.
However, concerns linger among U.S. officials about Cabello’s history and potential conflicts with Rodriguez, which could create obstacles, based on insights into the administration’s thinking.
Rodriguez has been working to consolidate power by placing allies in critical roles, aiming to protect himself from local threats while addressing U.S. demands for increased oil production.
Elliott Abrams, who was the special representative for Venezuela during Trump’s first term, noted that many Venezuelans anticipate Cabello’s eventual removal as the country’s transition to democracy unfolds.
“If he leaves, the Venezuelan people will know that the regime has really begun to change,” Abrams stated.
U.S. Sanctions and Indictments
For years, Cabello has faced U.S. sanctions due to suspicions of drug trafficking involvement.
In 2020, the U.S. publicly offered a $10 million bounty for his capture and indicted him as a significant player in the “Cartel de los Soles,” a drug-trafficking organization allegedly linked to Venezuelan officials. The bounty was later increased to $25 million. Cabello has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
After Maduro’s ousting, some experts and politicians in Washington questioned the absence of Cabello’s arrest, despite him being mentioned as number two in the indictment against Maduro.
“We know that only Diosdado is probably worse than Maduro, worse than Delcy,” remarked Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) during an interview.
Following that, Cabello publicly condemned U.S. involvement in Venezuela, asserting that “Venezuela will not surrender.”
Though media coverage indicates a decline in reports of residents being searched at checkpoints, both by uniformed and plainclothes officials, discussions about detainees have emerged. President Trump and the Venezuelan government suggested that many individuals labeled as political prisoners would be released, with Cabello overseeing this process.
Nevertheless, human rights advocates indicate that the pace of these releases has been very slow, and hundreds still face unlawful detention.
