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3d ago

U.S. Rescues Venezuelan Opposition Aides After 15-Month Embassy Standoff

Five close allies of opposition leader María Corina Machado are now safely in the U.S. following a precise extraction operation coordinated during Maduro's absence.

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Venezuelan security forces guard the residence of Argentina's ambassador, where Venezuelan opposition members have sought asylum since March, in Caracas, Venezuela July 31, 2024. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini/File Photo
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on during a swearing-in ceremony for Envoy Steve Witkoff in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 6, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura

Overview

  • Five Venezuelan opposition aides, accused of conspiracy by Nicolás Maduro's government, were extracted from the Argentine embassy in Caracas after over a year of refuge.
  • The U.S. described the operation as a precise rescue, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming their safe arrival on U.S. soil on Tuesday night.
  • The group, including key aides to opposition leader María Corina Machado, faced surveillance, utility cuts, and intimidation during their 15-month standoff with Maduro's regime.
  • A sixth asylum seeker, Fernando Martinez, surrendered to Venezuelan authorities in December 2024 and passed away in February, underscoring the risks faced by opposition figures.
  • Argentina and Secretary Rubio publicly acknowledged the operation's success, while Maduro's government has yet to issue a response, as Maduro himself was traveling to Russia during the extraction.