Maduro dismissed military warnings of U.S. operation

Intelligence reports indicate that Nicolás Maduro dismissed warnings regarding a potential United States military operation against Venezuela. According to documents cited by Infobae, then-Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López raised the alert during a high-level meeting on December 28, 2025, involving Maduro, Cilia Flores, Diosdado Cabello, and Jorge Rodríguez.

Padrino López reportedly recommended increasing military operational levels and suspending holiday leave for military personnel to prepare for possible U.S. action. However, Maduro and other political figures, including Cabello and Rodríguez, allegedly downplayed the threat. Maduro reportedly expressed surprise at the recommendation, claiming that intermediaries had assured him that the United States would not conduct military actions against Venezuelan institutions or his family.

Analysts suggest that Maduro’s decision to ignore these warnings may have stemmed from an overestimation of his own power and a reliance on unofficial assurances, ultimately preceding the operation that led to his capture.