Startling news broke over the weekend as Cuba confirmed a heavy toll in a daring U.S. military raid in Caracas, where Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s embattled leader, was captured.
Cuba’s government revealed that 32 of its army and Interior Ministry officers perished during the early Saturday operation by U.S. forces, as reported by Military.com. This admission shines a rare light on Havana’s deep involvement in propping up Maduro’s regime.
The statement, published in Granma, Cuba’s largest daily, avoided detailing the officers’ exact mission or naming Maduro explicitly. Yet, it noted some were stationed at Fuerte Tiuna military base, the site where U.S. Delta forces apprehended Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Unveiling Cuba’s Role in Venezuelan Security
Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel later clarified that these officers were directly tasked with protecting Maduro and Flores. He praised them on X, saying, “Honor and glory to the brave Cuban fighters who fell while confronting terrorists in imperial uniforms, whose lives our men helped protect at the request of that sister nation.”
That narrative of heroism clashes with reality when you consider these weren’t neutral peacekeepers but active players in shielding a dictator from accountability. Díaz-Canel’s framing of U.S. forces as “terrorists” reeks of propaganda, ignoring the chaos Maduro’s rule has inflicted on millions of Venezuelans.
President Trump, speaking to the New York Post, didn’t mince words about the Cuban casualties, stating, “Many Cubans lost their lives last night. They were protecting Maduro. That was not a good move.” His blunt assessment cuts through Havana’s attempt to paint this as a noble sacrifice, pointing instead to a tragic misstep by Cuba’s regime.
Contradictions and Casualty Counts Emerge
Venezuela’s defense minister, Gen. Vladimir Padrino Lopez, offered a darker take, accusing U.S. forces of killing much of Maduro’s security team “in cold blood.” His words suggest a brutal encounter, but they dodge the question of why foreign Cuban operatives were so deeply embedded in Venezuela’s inner circle.
Meanwhile, The New York Times, citing an anonymous Venezuelan official, reported at least 40 deaths during the raid. That higher number hints at a fiercer clash than either side has fully admitted, raising questions about the true scale of the confrontation.
Cuba’s public acknowledgment of its military and intelligence presence in Venezuela marks a shift from past denials. The Interior Ministry, which oversees intelligence, and the armed forces both played roles, confirming long-held suspicions of Havana’s direct hand in Maduro’s survival.
U.S. Leaders Signal Cuba’s Vulnerability
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” underscored Cuba’s grip on Maduro’s security, stating, “It was Cubans that guarded Maduro. He was not guarded by Venezuelan bodyguards.” His words expose how Havana’s influence has hollowed out Venezuela’s sovereignty, turning it into a puppet state.
Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, turned the spotlight on Cuba’s fragility, saying, “Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall. I don’t know if they’re going to hold on.” He tied the island’s survival to Venezuelan oil aid, now cut off, painting a picture of a regime teetering on collapse.
Rubio echoed that warning on NBC, telling Havana to be “worried” about Venezuela’s fallout. He avoided specifics on future U.S. policy but made clear that Washington holds no fondness for a Cuban government that has long propped up Maduro’s tyranny.
Cuba’s Defiance Amid National Mourning
In response, Díaz-Canel declared two days of national mourning for the fallen officers, labeling the U.S. raid a “criminal attack.” His decree demanded Maduro’s “immediate” release and called for global outrage, a stance that feels more like posturing than a viable plan.
Cuba’s vow of “absolute support and solidarity” with Venezuela sounds resolute, yet it sidesteps the island’s own crumbling economy and inability to sustain such commitments. Clinging to revolutionary rhetoric won’t fill the void left by lost Venezuelan oil or shield Havana from the consequences of this failed gamble.
The raid’s aftermath leaves both nations reeling, with Cuba mourning its dead while facing an uncertain future under U.S. scrutiny. Maduro’s capture might be the first domino, and Havana’s leaders would be wise to rethink their strategy before the next one falls.
