By Micah Jonah
January 18, 2026
The revelation that the US held months of quiet talks with Venezuelan Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello before and after the raid which removed President Nicolas Maduro exposes a strategy driven more by stability than justice. Cabello, long accused of repression, named in a US drug trafficking indictment, remains at the centre of Venezuela’s security apparatus, yet Washington chose dialogue over detention.
Officials reportedly warned Cabello not to target the opposition, discussed sanctions and his indictment, signaling that the priority is to prevent chaos, protect a fragile transition rather than confront alleged abuses head on. This approach suggests that the US is willing to work with powerful insiders if they can guarantee order, safeguard oil flows during the transition period.
While interim President, Delcy Rodriguez is being treated as the public face of post Maduro governance, Cabello’s influence over security forces makes him a decisive power broker. Keeping him on the sidelines may reduce the risk of violent backlash, however, it also risks entrenching the same structures of coercion that fueled years of political repression.
For many Venezuelans and international observers, the message is troubling. A transition built on deals with hardline figures may deliver short term calm, however undermines confidence which real accountability and democratic reform will follow. Stability without justice may keep the streets quiet, yet leaves deeper crisis unresolved.
