CIA Discreetly Establishing Lasting Presence in Venezuela

CIA’s Secret Preparation for U.S. Presence in Venezuela

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is quietly working on plans for a sustained U.S. presence in Venezuela, following the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro. This effort aligns with initiatives from the Trump administration.

According to CNN, CIA and State Department officials are engaged in discussions about the shape of U.S. involvement in Venezuela after Maduro’s ousting, both in the short term and for the future. While the State Department will be the public face of U.S. diplomacy, it is expected to heavily rely on intelligence services in the initial phases of the political transition.

A source close to the planning remarked, “Countries plant the flag, but it’s the CIA that really has the influence.” They noted that the agency’s immediate tasks involve establishing the basics for diplomatic engagement, ensuring security, and building connections with influential figures in the region.

The CIA’s operations in Venezuela are not new. Prior to Maduro’s arrest on January 3, a covert team had already been monitoring his activities since August, which proved essential for the operation leading to his capture.

Furthermore, the administration’s choice to back Maduro’s then-vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, over opposition leader María Colina Machado stemmed from a classified CIA analysis. This assessment indicated that loyalists to Maduro might be better positioned to ensure short-term stability after his exit, and it was briefed to President Trump.

With Maduro gone, the CIA is now focused on asserting U.S. influence from within and evaluating the new leadership’s actions.

In the beginning stages, U.S. officials are likely to operate from a CIA annex rather than the official embassy and may initiate informal discussions with various political figures in Venezuela, including those in the transitional government and opposition.

A former U.S. government official involved with Venezuela explained, “Setting up the annex is critical. It will establish a communication channel even before official diplomatic ties are formed. This will allow for dialogue that typical diplomats can’t engage in.”

John Ratcliffe, the CIA Director, has recently made a visit to Venezuela post-Maduro’s capture, meeting with Rodriguez and military authorities. The CIA will also share intelligence with Venezuelan officials concerning threats from countries like China, Russia, and Iran.

A former official highlighted that sharing such sensitive information won’t be the State Department’s responsibility, stating, “The DNI has to determine what to share and declassify, then the intelligence community will handle the briefing.”

Despite Trump’s assertion that the U.S. will “run” Venezuela until a “sensible” transition occurs, longer-term strategies remain vague. Moreover, the State Department has previously withdrawn all diplomats from its Caracas embassy in 2019 and has since been managing operations from Bogotá.