The "Mir Jafar" of Venezuela: How Diosdado Cabello Facilitated Maduro's Ouster
In the wake of this high-stakes conflict, a critical question has emerged: How was it possible to extract Maduro from his fortress-like official residence within just a few hours? Experts argue that such an operation would have been nearly impossible without high-level internal assistance.
According to reports by Reuters and other international outlets, a person within Maduro’s innermost circle had been regularly leaking his precise location and security details to the CIA. This intelligence provided the U.S. with a granular understanding of Maduro’s movements and defensive measures long before Operation Absolute Resolve was launched on January 3, 2026. While sources remain anonymous, the precision of the raid points to a major internal breach.
New details have since surfaced regarding the role of Diosdado Cabello, the hardline Minister of Interior and long-considered the second most powerful man in Venezuela. Reports suggest the Trump administration had been in secret communication with Cabello for months prior to the operation. These communications have reportedly continued even after Maduro’s arrest. Sources indicate that U.S. officials warned Cabello to ensure that his controlled forces and the pro-government colectivo militias did not launch a crackdown on the opposition or sabotage the transition.
Cabello, often viewed as the architect of the regime’s repressive policies, controls vast military and civilian intelligence networks. Intriguingly, while Maduro was arrested on narco-terrorism charges—an indictment in which Cabello is also named—Cabello himself was not detained during the raid. Analysts suggest that the U.S. is relying on influential figures like Cabello to maintain immediate stability in the country and ensure continued access to Venezuela's vast oil reserves.
Political analysts believe that Cabello’s past role and his internal power struggles could present a significant challenge for Washington in the future. Although he has publicly pledged loyalty to Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, his direct and mediated channels with U.S. officials suggest a complex game of survival and opportunism.
As international eyes turn toward Maduro’s trial in New York, the focus remains on whether this "Mir Jafar-like" betrayal will lead to a genuine democratic transition or if the shadow of Cabello’s influence will merely result in a change of the regime's head while its core remains intact.
