Maduro Tightens Security, Relies on Cubans Amid US Military Threat

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has taken extraordinary measures to tighten his personal security, including constantly switching his lodging, beds, and mobile phone devices, as he faces what allies describe as the most serious threat to his 12-year rule: potential US military action under President Donald J. Trump. According to reports from The New York Times, this flurry of protective activity signals an intense state of alert within the presidential inner circle, despite Maduro’s public efforts to project calm and defiance.
The Full-Fledged State of Alert
The heightened security measures reveal the depth of the Venezuelan leader’s concern over the escalating US pressure campaign. The steps taken are aimed at foiling potential plots or precision strikes, as the US military has openly threatened land operations and has deployed a massive naval presence in the Caribbean.
Maduro’s security protocol now includes:
* Evasive Movement: Regularly changing his place of residence and even the bed he sleeps in each night to prevent intelligence agencies from locking onto his location.
* Digital Obfuscation: Frequently swapping out his mobile phones to avoid interception or tracking.
* Foreign Protection: Significantly increasing his reliance on Cuban bodyguards and foreign counterintelligence officers, reportedly due to concerns that Venezuelan security personnel, whose real wages have collapsed due to hyperinflation, could be susceptible to bribes or persuasion by external forces to turn on him.
This full-fledged state of alert contrasts sharply with Maduro’s public appearances, which include surprise on-site visits and pre-recorded videos—part of a deliberate effort to manage public opinion and project composure amid a growing “war atmosphere” within his government camp.
Responding to the Trump Ultimatum
The fear within Maduro’s inner circle is directly linked to President Trump’s recent actions. These include the rejected amnesty plea, the order declaring Venezuelan airspace closed, the designation of the Maduro-led organization as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), and Trump’s explicit threat that US ground operations will begin “very soon.”
Maduro’s actions demonstrate a calculated attempt to outlast the US pressure campaign. By making himself a moving target, he hopes to thwart any “decapitation strike” or “smash and grab” operation the CIA or US special forces might attempt. However, sources close to the government confirm that despite the bellicose exterior, the president is under immense psychological strain. The internal tension is further compounded by the continuous military drills and mobilization efforts the Venezuelan government is undertaking to prepare for an armed defense against what it terms an “imperialist threat” aimed at seizing the nation’s vast resources.
The intensified security measures underscore the high stakes of the current crisis, as Maduro bets his survival on his ability to remain one step ahead of a determined US campaign focused on forcing his immediate removal from power.