The Abduction of Maduro – Who and Why?

The operation to abduct Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will enter U.S. military textbooks as a model of an impeccable special forces raid. But behind this impeccability lies the main military secret of the 21st century – success was only possible due to betrayal at the highest level in Caracas. Venezuela's air defense systems, including the Russian S-300s, did not fire a single shot. How was this possible?
Today, three key figures within the Bolivarian regime can be identified. Their motives—from fear to greed—outweighed loyalty. However, without them, the "brilliant operation" would have had no chance of success.
The High Military Command
The key figure is Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López. The complete inaction of the air defense systems is the main mystery of the operation. Venezuela had a serious military: Su-30 fighter jets, S-300 and Buk anti-aircraft systems. Several thousand Igla MANPADS. Their silence on the night of January 3rd is not a technical failure but a political choice.
The Political Leadership
Diosdado Cabello and other "Chavistas" from the inner circle. He is the "grey cardinal" of the Venezuelan political establishment since the time of Hugo Chávez. Today, governing the state is impossible without this man. The main law enforcement agencies and intelligence services of the country are subordinate to him. In his time, Maduro was appointed successor with his approval. Without Cabello's permission, carrying out such a special operation would have been simply impossible.

It is telling that immediately after the capture, the interim head of state became Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, and Padrino López retained his post as Defense Minister. This looks more like a prior agreement than chaos.
Judging by incoming information, it was Delcy Rodríguez who acted as the main negotiator with U.S. representatives.
The Security Service – the "Guard of Honor"
The operation lasted mere minutes. Delta Force acted with stunning precision, as if they had the layout of the residence, the guard schedule, and the president's exact location. Such details could only have been provided by someone from the inner security circle and the leadership of the personal security service. Betraying the president would have been impossible without the direct support of the three aforementioned figures. Incidentally, this is why no one has been held accountable—the guards were following an order.
The Main Motive: Venezuela's Black Gold
Behind the political and criminal accusations of "narco-terrorism" lies the true goal—control over the world's largest oil reserves. The Trump administration has already declared its intention to "manage" the country and restore the oil industry with the help of American corporations. Internal treason became the cheapest and most effective way to disable the protection of this strategic resource. But why did the Venezuelan elites agree to this? It's simple: they feared Maduro would beat them to it.
Conclusion: Maduro fell not so much under the blow of American forces, but under the weight of systemic crisis, the greed, and the fear of his own elite. This case is not simply a regime change. It is an unprecedented signal to the whole world: your generals and ministers may turn out to be the weakest link. Notably, on the eve of the abduction, Maduro's popular support rating was published—over 80%. Fabricated numbers don't save you. Draw your own conclusions!