Venezuelan Powerbrokers Secretly Assured US of Cooperation Before Maduro's Capture
Exclusive sources have revealed that Delcy Rodríguez, now Venezuela's acting president, and her powerful brother Jorge Rodríguez secretly pledged cooperation to United States and Qatari officials ahead of Nicolás Maduro's capture earlier this month. Four sources involved at high levels with the discussions confirmed to the Guardian that these assurances were given through intermediaries before the US military operation that removed Maduro from power.
Backchannel Communications Began Last Autumn
The communications between US officials and Delcy Rodríguez, who was then serving as Maduro's vice-president, reportedly began in the fall and continued after a crucial November phone call between Donald Trump and Maduro. During that conversation, Trump insisted that Maduro leave Venezuela, a demand the Venezuelan leader rejected. By December, Delcy Rodríguez was reportedly telling US officials that "Maduro needs to go" and that she would "work with whatever is the aftermath" of his departure.
According to sources familiar with the messages, the Rodríguez siblings assured officials they would welcome Maduro's departure and cooperate with the Trump administration once the strongman was removed from power. These pledges of cooperation before the Maduro raid have not been previously reported, though the Miami Herald did report in October on abortive negotiations via Qatar in which Delcy offered to lead a transitional government if Maduro stepped down.
Fine Distinctions in the Agreement
Sources emphasize there was a crucial distinction in the agreement reached with Delcy Rodríguez. While the Rodríguez family promised to assist the US once Maduro was gone, they did not agree to actively help topple him. The sources insist this was not a coup engineered against Maduro by the Rodríguez siblings, but rather assurances about post-Maduro cooperation.
Hours after the raid, Trump appeared to confirm the talks, telling the New York Post that Delcy Rodríguez was "onboard" and that "we've spoken to her numerous times, and she understands." The Venezuelan government did not respond to emailed questions concerning this story, nor did the White House respond to detailed questions.
Multiple Channels of Communication
These backchannel conversations occurred alongside many official talks between Trump officials and the Maduro-led Venezuelan government. Maduro himself met with top Trump aide Ric Grenell just ten days after Trump's inauguration to discuss US prisoners, who were subsequently released. Key Trump aides continued official talks with Jorge and Delcy Rodríguez quite often to coordinate issues like bi-weekly deportation flights of Venezuelans from the US.
Meanwhile, Delcy Rodríguez retained very close personal ties with Qatar, where members of the ruling family considered her a friend. Qatar, a key US ally that donated a $400 million luxury jet for Trump's use, reportedly used its goodwill in Trump's White House to open more doors for Rodríguez in secret negotiations.
Transition Plans and American Calculations
As reported by the Miami Herald in October, Rodríguez tried to propose a transition government led by herself that would rule Venezuela if Maduro agreed to a prearranged retirement. Though the plan fell through and Rodríguez fiercely denounced the story, key Americans began to view her as more than a two-dimensional dogmatic leader.
Sources describe a figure with disarming quirks who drinks champagne, has a private ping-pong coach, and tends to challenge foreign dignitaries to games. By October, even Americans most aggressive against Maduro were reportedly open to working with her secretly.
Oil Interests and Stability Concerns
One significant factor was Rodríguez's promise to work with American oil interests and her acquaintance with Americans in the oil business. "Delcy is the most committed to working with US oil," an ally of hers stated. The main US goal was stability once Maduro was out, given predictions of civil war and chaos. "The biggest thing was trying to avoid a failed state," one source explained.
Mauricio Claver-Carone, a former Trump special envoy for Latin America who still had the ear of Marco Rubio despite being out of government, was reportedly a key backer of working with Rodríguez. Claver-Carone declined to comment on the matter.
A Delicate Dance of Loyalty
For Delcy Rodríguez, this represented a delicate dance of loyalty. While making offers to the US, she did not agree to actively betray Maduro. "She feared him," said one official familiar with the events. When US attack helicopters flew into Caracas in early January, Delcy Rodríguez was reportedly on Margarita Island, a Venezuelan vacation spot, despite rumors that she had fled to Moscow.
Reuters reported on Sunday that Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela's powerful interior minister who controls police and security forces, had also been in discussions with the US months before the Maduro operation, indicating multiple channels of communication between regime elements and US officials.
