Jesús Daniel Romero and William Acosta from Miami Strategic Intelligence Institute for Poder & Dinero and FinGurú
On May 6, 2025, a meticulously planned operation, called "Operation Guacamaya," successfully extracted five senior collaborators of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado from the Argentine Embassy in Caracas, where they had remained refugees for over a year. The individuals — Magallí Meda, Claudia Macero, Omar González, Pedro Urruchurtu, and Humberto Villalobos — sought asylum in March 2024 to evade arrest warrants issued by the Venezuelan regime following a harsh crackdown that ensued after the disputed presidential elections of July 2024.
The operation was executed while President Nicolás Maduro was on an official visit to Moscow, a strategically calculated moment that likely contributed to its success. The extraction was coordinated by the United States, Argentina, and Brazil, culminating in the safe arrival of the opposition members on U.S. soil. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the mission as "precise" and "carefully executed," although specific details remain confidential.
In a parallel effort, Corina Parisca de Machado, the mother of María Corina Machado, was also safely evacuated from her residence after having suffered persistent threats and constant surveillance by the regime's security forces. She had been subjected to cuts in basic services and continuous monitoring, which prompted her family's persistent pleas for her to leave the country.
The Maduro government acknowledged the exits but denied that they were part of an international operation, instead claiming they were pre-arranged departures. These statements directly contradict accounts from U.S. officials and opposition members and have been widely rejected as an attempt by the regime to disguise a clear diplomatic setback.
Cracks in the Control Apparatus
This operation highlights vulnerabilities within the security and intelligence structures of the regime. Despite its network of repression and surveillance, chavismo was unable to prevent a perfectly executed extraction operation from a location under constant observation. This failure reveals troubling fissures in the regime's capacity to exert absolute control, something that should deeply alarm Maduro and his inner circle.
A Shared Democratic Responsibility — And Outstanding Issues
The success of this mission emphasizes not only the operational coordination between Argentina and the United States but also the discreet participation of Brazil, Italy, and Spain, whose diplomatic channels would have supported logistical aspects of the extraction and subsequent transit. Although the United States led the operation, it was a multinational effort among democracies, demonstrating that when free nations collaborate, even authoritarian strongholds can be penetrated.
Nonetheless, the achievement should not overshadow an alarming reality: at least nine U.S. citizens remain detained in Venezuela on dubious charges. Their prolonged confinement — in some cases for years — raises serious questions about the bargaining power of the U.S. and the regime's willingness to use human lives as pawns.
This operation, while admirable, is not the end point. It is a powerful reminder that the United States and its allies must remain vigilant, steadfast, and proactive, not only in defending democratic allies but also in the outstanding task of bringing their own citizens home.
Conclusion
The extractions of May 2025 — both from the Argentine Embassy and from Machado's family residence — represent a turning point in the struggle for democracy in Venezuela. They expose operational vulnerabilities and the fragility of the regime's myth of absolute control. Even though Maduro remains in power, the narrative of his untouchability has been pierced.
References:
● ArcaMax. (2025, May 6). 5 Venezuelan opposition leaders rescued from Argentinian Embassy. https://www.arcamax.com/currentnews/newsheadlines/s-3698842
● BBC. (2025, May 7). Five Venezuelan opposition members ‘rescued’ from Caracas, U.S. says. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8k86lxpl7o
● BNO News. (2025, May 7). U.S. confirms rescue of Venezuelan opposition figures from Argentinian embassy in Caracas. https://bnonews.com/index.php/2025/05/us-confirms-rescue-of-venezuelan-opposition-figures-from-argentinian-embassy-in-caracas/
● Bloomberg. (2025, May 6). Venezuela Machado’s Aides Leave Argentina Embassy in Caracas. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-06/venezuela-opposition-members-leave-argentina-embassy-in-caracas
● CBS News. (2025, May 6). Rubio announces successful rescue of Venezuelan opposition from Argentine embassy in Caracas. https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/venezuelan-opposition-members-leave-argentine-diplomatic-compound-rescue-operation/
● Center for Strategic and International Studies. (2024, August 21). A question of staying power: Is the Maduro regime’s repression sustainable? https://www.csis.org/analysis/question-staying-power-maduro-regimes-repression-sustainable
● El País. (2025, May 8). The Venezuelan opposition assures that Maduro was taken by surprise by the departure of the refugees from the Argentine Embassy. https://elpais.com/america/2025-05-08
● Financial Times. (2025, May 7). Venezuelan dissidents escape to U.S. in ‘epic operation’. https://www.ft.com/content/8d97d379-f2a4-4ecf-a8bf-c67c017cc29e
● Reuters. (2025, May 7). Venezuela opposition members who lived in embassy now in U.S., Rubio says. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/venezuela-opposition-members-who-lived-embassy-now-in-us-rubio-says-2025-05-07/
● The Washington Post. (2025, May 7). Venezuelan opposition team flees to U.S. after ‘precise operation,’ Rubio says. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/06/venezuela-opposition-leave-embassy-us/
● Yahoo News. (2025, May 7). Venezuelan opposition figures ‘rescued’, now in U.S.: Rubio. https://www.yahoo.com/news/venezuelan-opposition-figures-rescued-now-022456343.html
Wikipedia. (2025). Operación Guacamaya. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operacion_Guacamaya
Jesús Daniel Romero. Retired Commander of Naval Intelligence of the United States. Co-Founder and Senior Fellow of the Miami Strategic Intelligence Institute. Author of "Final Flight: the queen of air," a bestseller on Amazon. An authorized account of his experiences leading teams against drug cartels in Central America. A regularly consulted figure on topics of his expertise and geopolitics in general, by the main audiovisual and print media in the state of Florida. Columnist for Diario Las Américas of Miami
William Acosta. Served in the New York Police Department as an investigator. Participated in various international investigations regarding drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorism, homicides, and human trafficking. Collaborated with the United States Department of the Treasury and is currently CEO of Equalizer Investigations, an organization with offices in New York and Florida among others, and associates in Latin America and Europe.
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