Diosdado Cabello Becomes U.S. Partner Despite $25 Million Bounty in Venezuela
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 15
Diosdado Cabello Becomes U.S. Partner Despite $25 Million Bounty in Venezuela
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 15
Summary
$25 million still hangs over Venezuelan minister Diosdado Cabello, yet he is now working closely with senior U.S. officials after Washington's January intervention toppled Nicolás Maduro.
Public encounters this month underscored the shift: a senior U.S. diplomat shook Cabello's hand at an event, and American generals met him the next day and were photographed laughing before talks.
U.S. prosecutors have accused Cabello of trafficking tons of cocaine, Treasury sanctioned him for embezzlement, and the U.N. has accused him of terrorizing opponents.
The Trump administration's supporters cast the accommodation as a pragmatic trade-off for stability in a de facto U.S. protectorate, while critics see Cabello's survival in power as a betrayal of Venezuelans seeking political change.
How did a wanted narco-trafficker with a $25 million bounty become Washington's key partner in Venezuela?
With the U.S. now controlling Venezuela's oil billions, why are its citizens still facing a deepening humanitarian crisis?
Cabello’s $25 Million Dilemma: U.S. Cooperation, Mining Reform, and Human Rights in Post-Maduro Venezuela
Overview
In early 2026, U.S. Special Forces removed President Maduro, turning Venezuela into a de facto U.S. protectorate. Washington kept the existing security services and governing party intact, leading to Diosdado Cabello’s dual role: he faces serious criminal allegations but remains a key figure in a government now cooperating with the U.S. This pragmatic approach became clear after a major earthquake in June 2026, when Venezuela and the U.S. coordinated disaster response. The situation highlights the complex balance between stability, cooperation, and unresolved legal issues in Venezuela’s post-intervention landscape.