Nicolás Maduro, the autocrat of an isolated Venezuela who had no intention of surrendering

Nicolás Maduro had been anticipating a U.S. attack for months. For the first time since succeeding Hugo Chávez as Venezuela’s leader, he felt he was in real danger and faced a genuine possibility of being overthrown. According to U.S. President Donald Trump, the president of Venezuela was detained and removed from the country on Saturday, along with his wife and mother of his only child, Cilia Flores. He had no intention of leaving voluntarily.

The United States attacked Venezuela by surprise. “They bombed about five points. In Caracas, Aragua, and Miranda,” explains a high-ranking Chavista official close to Maduro, who, despite everything, is reportedly maintaining his composure.

Before being detained, the president of Venezuela had made one thing clear to those around him: no one here surrenders. He had to be forcibly removed by U.S. military personnel, according to Trump’s account. Sources who had been in contact with Maduro during this time say he was prepared to go all the way and never considered an agreement with Washington that would result in him giving up power. The possibility hadn’t even been on the table. Maduro governs Venezuela alone, contrary to what many believe. The regime’s number two, Diosdado Cabello, wields enormous influence over the government and controls the Chavista rank and file, but the final word always rests with Maduro. There is no shared or divided power; everything begins and ends with him.

Until a few hours ago, none of his inner circle considered negotiating under the condition that Maduro give up power. Jorge Rodríguez, his main political operator, attempted to reach specific agreements with the Trump administration through Richard Grenell, the U.S. Special Envoy for Special Missions, but all attempts were unsuccessful.

During this period of tension, Maduro and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López have focused on keeping the Bolivarian army under control. Internal investigations have been constant to prevent any uprising or rebellion. “To doubt is to betray” is the motto enforced in all military barracks, a phrase that Cabello, for example, has even printed on a cap he wears while presenting his television program on the state network.

Power is concentrated — or was concentrated — in Maduro and exercised by no more than a handful of his most trusted people. In addition to Padrino and Jorge Rodríguez, there is Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, Jorge’s sister, and Cilia Flores, the first lady. All directives of this vertical regime flow from them — a state controlled in every corner by loyal Chavistas.

Those who stepped out of line were arrested and imprisoned without hesitation. After the 2024 elections, which were deemed fraudulent by international organizations that reviewed the ballots presented by the opposition led by María Corina Machado, Maduro purged the heads of military and civilian intelligence and launched a wave of inspections across the barracks. Later, someone who had previously been a trusted figure publicly praised by Maduro, Pedro Tellechea, Minister of Industry and National Production, was arrested. No one was safe from a possible purge.

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