I wanted it — Venezuelan Minister of Home Affairs Diosdado Cabello announced on Wednesday that five Venezuelan dissidents allegedly rescued a member of the Argentine embassy trapped in Caracas. They were released as part of a “negotiation” with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that a “precise operation” led to the safe arrival of five Venezuelan rebels in the U.S., who are affiliated with Machado’s team. Although Rubio provided no specifics about the operation, an “unobjectionable source” confirmed to an Argentine outlet that it was a military initiative ordered by the United States.
During his weekly talk show, Hit with a mallet, Cabello criticized Rubio’s actions, stating that the secretary was impeding discussions between the U.S. and Venezuela. He also denied the existence of a rescue operation in Caracas as Rubio had claimed.
Cabello, who has been linked to international drug trafficking, backed up his assertions against Rubio by referencing a purported letter from a “cooperating patriot.” The term “Cooperative Patriot” is used by figures like Nicolás Maduro and Cabello to describe spies and whistleblowers who support the regime.
He elaborated that these cooperative patriots are often utilized to launch attacks on individuals and make false accusations on his show. Cabello suggested that the letter he mentioned originated from a “cooperative patriot in the United States.”
“Marco Rubio is blocking the agreement between the White House and Miraflores,” Cabello stated, adding that Rubio’s actions are not supported by the White House. He referenced the idea that should the extraction strategy be true, Rubio’s comments reflect his own wrongdoing stemming from the Trump administration’s influence.
Cabello continued reading from the letter, asserting that Machado’s support in the U.S. is limited to certain sectors dominated by Rubio.
In his remarks, Cabello insisted that Machado’s backing comes from a narrow part of the government, which has increasingly diverged from the White House’s stance. He implied that Trump is aware of Rubio’s desire to be sidelined.
Cabello asserted that no rescue missions occurred; instead, he claimed that the opposition’s departure from Venezuela stemmed from negotiations between the Maduro regime and Machado.
“Now, a woman like Machado is calling it the perfect operation,” Cabello remarked, expressing skepticism regarding her priorities, particularly concerning her mother’s asylum.
Manuel Adorni, spokesman for the Argentine president, shortly before Cabello’s statements, acknowledged ongoing negotiations with Maduro’s administration to secure the release of the opposition. He mentioned that the extraction of five Venezuelans from the Argentine embassy was the result of several months of work that began during Trump’s new term.
Adorni expressed gratitude to President Javier Milei and emphasized that releasing Argentine citizens unfairly detained by Maduro remains a top priority. He noted the need for confidentiality during these efforts due to inherent risks.
The rescued rebels were among a broader group targeted by Maduro’s “Bolivarian Anger” campaign. After seeking refuge at the Argentine embassy in March 2024, they faced 14 months of confinement as the Venezuelan government refused them safe passage.
Since August, the Argentine embassy has been under Brazilian control following Maduro’s unilateral severance of ties with Argentina and several Latin American countries due to their non-recognition of his presidential election victory on July 28, 2024. The Brazilian government has made high-level contacts demanding safe passage for the opposition, though these efforts have been repeatedly rejected by Maduro.
