Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino has accused the United States of the "cold-blooded murder" of a significant portion of the security personnel protecting ousted President Nicolás Maduro.
In a statement from the regime's Armed Forces, General Padrino vehemently denounced what he called the "cowardly abduction" of Maduro and Cilia Flores, following the "cold-blooded murder of much of his security team, soldiers, and innocent civilians."
Padrino did not specify the exact number of casualties.
Trump Reveals Cuban Deaths
President Donald Trump claimed that Cubans lost their lives while attempting to defend Nicolás Maduro during the U.S. military operation. "You know, many Cubans lost their lives last night. Did you know that? Many Cubans lost their lives. They were protecting Maduro. That wasn't a good decision," Trump stated during an interview with The New York Post. However, he acknowledged not knowing the exact number of fatalities or whether they were military personnel, advisors, or security staff sent from Cuba.
In the same interview, Trump directly linked Cuba to the support of the Venezuelan regime. "Cuba always relied heavily on Venezuela. That's where they got their money, and they protected Venezuela, but that didn't work out very well in this case," he asserted, reinforcing the narrative of a strategic alliance that had fatal consequences for Cuban citizens.
Collapse of Maduro's Security Apparatus
The Cuban security network surrounding Nicolás Maduro, which for years served as his most reliable shield, failed to prevent his capture during the U.S. military operation that led to his removal from Venezuela.
The operation, carried out by the elite Delta Force with CIA support, exposed the vulnerabilities of the Cuban-Venezuelan protection system, a core component of chavista power since Hugo Chávez's death.
For the past decade, Havana controlled intelligence, counterintelligence, and presidential security in Caracas. According to international media reports, Maduro had bolstered his entourage with dozens of Cuban bodyguards, selected by Cuba's Ministry of the Interior (MININT) and the Department of State Security (DSE). These agents were responsible not only for his physical protection but also for internal espionage on Venezuelan officials.
According to intelligence sources cited by Axios and The New York Times, the Venezuelan leader feared assassination by his own Cuban advisors if he stepped down, due to sensitive information he held on financial deals, drug trafficking networks, and joint intelligence operations between Caracas and Havana.
"Cuba was his guardian, but also his jailer," warned CiberCuba weeks before his fall.
Maduro frequently changed residences, phone numbers, and security teams. He even ordered the integration of more G2 Cuban officers into the Venezuelan military to detect potential internal betrayals. Nevertheless, this complete reliance on Havana became his Achilles' heel.
Key Issues in U.S.-Venezuela-Cuba Relations
What accusations did Vladimir Padrino make against the United States?
Vladimir Padrino accused the United States of "cold-blooded murder" of a large part of Nicolás Maduro's security team during the operation that led to Maduro's removal.
How did President Trump describe the role of Cubans in Maduro's security?
President Trump stated that many Cubans died while trying to protect Nicolás Maduro during the U.S. operation and acknowledged their role in supporting Maduro’s regime.
Why was Maduro's security apparatus vulnerable?
Maduro's security was vulnerable due to its heavy reliance on Cuban protection, which became a liability when faced with U.S. military operations and internal betrayals.