Trump administration officials are reportedly considering exiling Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro and other top officials in different countries including Turkey, Russia and Cuba.
Politico detailed that exile is among the different scenarios being considered by the Trump administration should they effectively manage to end the regime in the South American countries. Other possibilities include placing Maduro under arrest and trying him in the U.S, or causing enough fear among officials or military leaders that they topple Maduro themselves.
In this context, officials are also discussing which sanctions to lift on Venezuela and when, should that scenario materialize. Some are also discussing how to rebuild the country's economy and how to improve the country's oil production, considering it's sitting on the world's largest known reserves.
The regime, at least publicly, is not showing signs of cracking. The regime's second-in-command dismissed this week the possibility of a negotiated transition, insisting that any talks must begin with respect for the country's constitution.
In remarks during the United Socialist Party of Venezuela's (PSUV) weekly press conference, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said opposition figures and outside advisers were promoting speculation about a change of government. "They talk about negotiations. Negotiations? Which ones?" he said. "The only negotiation is that they respect this Constitution because there were elections and Maduro won."
Cabello said those pushing for a transition "want to be given what they could not obtain through votes." He described the idea as driven by "advisers who don't know anything," adding that opponents were advancing a narrative targeting Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, senior officials Jorge and Delcy Rodríguez, and Maduro himself.
He said any negotiation would require adversaries to "recognize the government of Maduro," acknowledge the constitution, and be prepared "to defend the country."
The national electoral authority declared Maduro the winner of the July 28, 2024 election, although the opposition published tallies showing candidate Edmundo González winning with 65% of the vote. Maduro's self-proclaimed victory has been heavily questioned by the international community since.
The Trump administration does not recognize Maduro as the winner of the election and several officials, including Trump, are claiming its days are numbered. So is opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
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