On Friday night, President Donald Trump revealed that the United States Southern Command successfully executed a deadly strike against Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as "Niño Guerrero," the founder and top leader of the Tren de Aragua, at a site of the organization located in Las Claritas, Bolívar state, Venezuela.
What makes this announcement unprecedented in diplomatic terms is Trump's choice of words when speaking about Caracas: "This action was closely coordinated with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are collaborating very well," he stated on Truth Social, marking a novel expression that highlights the president's alignment with the interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed on Saturday that the Department of War acted "in full cooperation with Venezuelan security forces," emphasizing that the operation "reflects the shared commitment of the U.S. and Venezuela to combat narcoterrorists and deny them any safe haven in our hemisphere."
The commander of the Southern Command, General Francis L. Donovan, was even more explicit: "We extend our gratitude to the Venezuelan security forces for their support in the successful joint operation," he stated in an official release.
This rapprochement between Washington and Caracas results from a drastic shift following the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, in the so-called "Operation Absolute Resolution."
With Maduro detained and transported to the United States, Delcy Rodríguez took control of the Venezuelan government and quickly opened a dialogue channel with the Trump administration focused on energy cooperation and security.
On January 14, Rodríguez confirmed a "long, productive, and courteous" phone conversation with Trump on bilateral issues.
On March 4, Trump publicly praised Rodríguez, stating that she was "doing a great job" and that Venezuelan oil "is starting to flow," while Rodríguez thanked him for his "kind disposition" to work together.
On March 24, Rodríguez announced the dispatch of Venezuelan diplomats to Washington to formalize the new bilateral stage, and on May 28, it was reported that the Trump administration ordered a halt to criminal investigations against Rodríguez in Miami as part of this rapprochement strategy.
Trump presented the elimination of Niño Guerrero as the fulfillment of a campaign promise and as retribution for the crimes committed by the gang on U.S. soil, specifically mentioning Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old found dead in Houston in June 2024, and Laken Riley, a 22-year-old murdered in Georgia in February 2024.
Guerrero Flores was wanted by the Department of Justice, which had formally charged him in December 2025 in a federal court in New York with conspiracy to commit extortion, support terrorist activities, and drug trafficking. The State Department had offered a reward of $5 million for him since July 2025.
"The terrorists of the Tren de Aragua no longer have a safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else, and under my leadership, we will find these murderers and drug lords anytime, anywhere, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong," Trump warned.
Key Aspects of the U.S.-Venezuela Cooperation
What was the outcome of the joint operation between the U.S. and Venezuela?
The joint operation led to the successful elimination of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the leader of the Tren de Aragua, marking a significant achievement in the fight against narcoterrorism.
How has the relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela changed?
The relationship has improved significantly, with both nations collaborating on energy and security matters, following the capture of Nicolás Maduro and the rise of Delcy Rodríguez's interim government.
What did Trump say about the cooperation with Venezuela?
President Trump referred to Venezuela as "our friends" and praised the collaborative efforts, indicating a significant shift in the diplomatic approach towards Caracas.