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High-ranking officials in the United States government have reportedly revealed that Nicolás Maduro fears being killed by his own Cuban allies if he decides to relinquish power in Venezuela, according to a report from Axios that details alleged internal discussions within the administration of President Donald Trump.
The cited U.S. intelligence services claim that Maduro fears being eliminated by his Cuban advisors in the event that he resigns from power, as Havana controls the security and counterintelligence apparatus of the Venezuelan regime.
Maduro "knows too much" about the secret agreements between both governments, including financial transfers, drug trafficking networks and joint intelligence operations, which makes him a risk to the interests of the Cuban dictatorship if he loses power, the document states.
“Part of the challenge in convincing him to resign is that his own Cuban handlers could execute him if he yields to U.S. pressure,” the report states.
It expresses that the influence of the Cuban regime in Venezuela remains crucial. Since 2013, Cuban agents control intelligence, presidential security, and a significant portion of the Venezuelan military apparatus, which has allowed Havana to maintain its political and economic presence in exchange for oil and money.
For the United States, this alliance is a direct threat that sustains both the repression in Cuba and regional drug trafficking.
According to those same sources, Trump plans to speak directly with Maduro, even after Washington officially designated him as the leader of a terrorist organization linked to international drug trafficking.
Regarding American plans, it emphasizes that "no one is planning to enter and shoot him or kidnap him —for now. I wouldn't say never, but that is not the plan at this moment," stated a high-ranking official quoted by Axios.
The report details that at least 83 people have died in 21 missile attacks against vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the Caribbean, as part of the U.S. military operation “Southern Spear”.
Although officially the operation is an anti-drug mission, military sources admit that it also seeks to force a regime change in Caracas, weakening Maduro's control and his alliance with Cuba, Russia, China, and Iran.
"We have undercover operations, but they are not designed to kill Maduro. They are designed to stop drug trafficking," a White House official assured.
"If Maduro goes, we won't shed a tear," he emphasized.
According to Axios, Trump believes that a negotiated exit could secure his legacy as the leader who "did everything possible to stop the flow of drugs into the United States."
"I see a diplomatic solution as very likely," said one of Trump's advisors. "The president wants concrete results, not just bombs."
The relations between the Chavista regime and Cuba have been under scrutiny for decades.
Three years ago, the book Cara e' crimen, by former Venezuelan deputy Pablo Medina, revealed that "the true causes of Chávez's mysterious death, as well as his unhealthy relationship with Fidel Castro, to the extent that he ultimately subordinated the interests of his nation to those of Cuba."
The author claims that Chávez did not die in Venezuela, as stated in the official version, but rather that his remains were sent from Cuba. Furthermore, it is asserted that the body received in Caracas did not correspond to that of the Venezuelan leader, who suffered from an illness known only to his closest circle. Upon seeing the body, his mother purportedly said, "This is not my son," according to the text.
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