U.S. Operation Captures Maduro, Ending Cuba's 60-Year Revolutionary Drive

Raid on Maduro's compound leaves 32 Cuban bodyguards dead, marking a major shift in hemispheric power dynamics

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A U.S. military operation in Caracas on January 3, 2026 captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, killing 32 Cuban bodyguards in the process. The raid, framed as a 'narco-terrorism' mission, is seen as the latest chapter in a 60-year geopolitical contest between the U.S. and Cuba's revolutionary agenda across Latin America.

Why it matters

For decades, Cuba has pursued the 'revolutionary transformation of the entire Western Hemisphere,' providing support, funding, and training to leftist movements and governments across the region. The capture of Maduro, a key Cuban ally, marks a major setback for Havana's hemispheric ambitions and could lead to a realignment of political power in Latin America.

The details

The raid involved low-flying helicopters, Delta Force operators, and real-time briefing at Mar-a-Lago. It targeted Maduro and Flores, who had long been sheltered by a network of Cuban operatives and intelligence assets. Over the decades, Cuba has provided asylum to roughly 80 American fugitives, from hijackers to members of the Black Liberation Army, as part of its strategic goals of 'annoying the United States.' In Venezuela, Cuban agents cultivated military cells and helped launch Hugo Chávez's 1992 coup attempt, laying the groundwork for Chávez's later election victory and the implementation of the Foro de São Paulo playbook - abolishing the judiciary, eliminating term limits, and diverting PDVSA oil revenues to Havana.

  • The U.S. operation captured Maduro and Flores on January 3, 2026.
  • Since the Tricontinental Congress of 1966, Havana has pursued the 'revolutionary transformation of the entire Western Hemisphere.'

The players

Nicolás Maduro

The President of Venezuela who was captured in the U.S. operation.

Cilia Flores

The wife of Nicolás Maduro.

Fidel Castro

The former leader of Cuba who pursued the revolutionary agenda across Latin America.

Douglas Bravo

A Cuban operative who cultivated military cells and helped launch Hugo Chávez's 1992 coup attempt in Venezuela.

Hugo Chávez

The former President of Venezuela whose election victory enabled the implementation of the Foro de São Paulo playbook, which was supported by Cuba.

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What they’re saying

“What we have is our hemisphere.”

— Marco Rubio, U.S. Senator (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

The U.S. operation signals a willingness to conduct high-risk raids in Latin America, suggesting future interventions in hotspots where Cuban-backed actors operate. The capture of Maduro could also lead to a consolidation of right-wing governments in the region, creating a new 'Monroe Doctrine 2.0' that aligns economic aid and security guarantees with anti-socialist policies.

The takeaway

The capture of Maduro marks a major setback for Cuba's decades-long efforts to export its revolutionary agenda across Latin America. With Venezuela's oil lifeline disrupted, Havana's capacity to fund intelligence networks and support leftist movements in the region may wane, potentially leading to a significant realignment of political power in the hemisphere.