In a stunning accusation that has sent shockwaves through international diplomatic circles, Colombia's former vice-president has claimed that Venezuela's incoming interim leader betrayed Nicolas Maduro, leading to his capture by United States forces.
Explosive Allegations from a Seasoned Diplomat
Francisco Santos, who served as Colombia's vice-president from 2002 to 2010 and later as its ambassador to the US, stated he is 'absolutely certain' that Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro's second-in-command, 'handed him over'. The claims follow a dramatic US military assault on Caracas on Friday night, which resulted in the extradition of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to New York to face drug trafficking charges.
Contradicting initial reports of a standalone 'impressive operation' by American forces, Santos told Colombian news channel NTN24: 'They didn't remove him, they handed him over.' He asserted that all available information points to an inside operation orchestrated with Rodriguez's involvement. 'Obviously, they have to set the stage,' Santos added, referencing US President Donald Trump's announcement that Rodriguez would lead Venezuela's political transition.
A Contradictory Stance from the Accused
Despite being named by Trump as a key figure for the future administration, Rodriguez, a 56-year-old trained lawyer with postgraduate studies in Paris and London, has publicly condemned the US action. She has accused the States of 'kidnapping' Maduro and demanded his immediate release from prison, vowing that 'history and justice will make the extremists who have provoked this armed aggression against our country pay.'
Santos, however, described her defiant rhetoric as a bid to 'earn a little bit of independence' while playing the role assigned by Washington. He characterised President Trump's strategy as 'very pragmatic', outlining three key decisions: capturing Maduro, establishing a transition with a regime figure, and seeking financing from oil companies.
The 'Least Bad Option' for a Post-Maduro Venezuela
Analysing the US approach, Santos suggested Washington had learned from the disastrous aftermath of the 2003 Iraq invasion. He described Rodriguez as representing 'one of the least bad options' for the Trump administration. In a stark comparison, Santos, who referred to Maduro as 'Padrino' (Godfather), claimed: 'if Padrino and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello are 100 per cent, then Delcy would represent 97 per cent of criminality.'
The daughter of a left-wing activist who died in police custody in 1976, Rodriguez was Venezuela's first female Foreign Minister before being appointed vice-president in 2018. She is due to be formally sworn in as the country's new interim leader, even as Trump has warned remaining regime stalwarts of potential further US attacks if they do not cooperate.
The situation leaves Rodriguez in a perilous position, publicly condemning the US while allegedly being its chosen instrument for governance. The coming days will reveal whether Santos's explosive claims of betrayal are substantiated and how Venezuela navigates this unprecedented political rupture.
