CNN: Rubio emerges as key architect of US Maduro operation

Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, played a central role in the audacious US operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, CNN reports. 

Sources describe Rubio as the driving force behind the months-long strategy, working closely with President Donald Trump from Mar-a-Lago and coordinating day-to-day planning from the White House.

Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants from South Florida, has long positioned Maduro as a political target, leveraging strong local support from the region’s large Venezuelan diaspora. His influence in Trump’s inner circle was evident during the raid, where he was reportedly at the “de facto Situation Room” in Florida, alongside Trump and key advisers, including Stephen Miller.

In the months leading up to the operation, Rubio and Miller crafted the strategy in near-secrecy, bypassing much of the traditional State Department bureaucracy. Their partnership, sources say, was rooted in a shared hardline stance, prioritising military and economic pressure on Maduro, particularly targeting drug trafficking networks and Venezuela’s oil revenues.

Hours after the raid, Trump publicly tasked Rubio with helping “run” Venezuela, highlighting his centrality to post-Maduro planning. Rubio has since engaged directly with interim President Delcy Rodríguez, overseeing US influence and liaising with lawmakers and foreign counterparts. The administration’s approach, Rubio told Congress, focuses on issues central to US national interests — migration, drugs, oil and countering adversary influence — while delaying broader democratic transition plans.

Rubio’s style and experience made him the administration’s lead communicator, briefing Congress on sensitive operations, including prior strikes against alleged narcotics-smuggling vessels. Observers note his fluency in Spanish and polished presentation skills have enhanced his effectiveness, allowing him to act as the administration’s public and operational point person on Venezuela.

Yet challenges remain. Former diplomats note the scale of governance in Venezuela, where the US lacks a diplomatic presence, makes day-to-day oversight unfeasible. Experts suggest Rubio will need to delegate much of the operational management and may eventually require a dedicated envoy to coordinate a post-Maduro transition.

Rubio’s personal antipathy toward Maduro, shaped by his South Florida upbringing and Cuban heritage, has clearly influenced his approach. Sources say his belief that Venezuela’s leadership poses both a criminal and ideological threat has driven his persistent advocacy for the operation.

With Maduro detained and Rodríguez in power, Rubio now sits at the forefront of US efforts in Venezuela — a culmination of years of preparation, political influence, and strategic planning that underscores his rising prominence in the Trump administration.

By Aghakazim Guliyev