It is known that Donald Trump had a telephone conversation with Maduro last week. The US president allegedly assured the autocrat of “safe passage” if he did will resign from power and leave the country. The White House confirmed this on Monday, December 1.
Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin told CNN that one of the places being considered for a possible exile is Russia. There are increasing speculations that the despot may ultimately end up in Vladimir Putin's “camp of scoundrels”.
The political chessboard is now shifting, and Maduro may become a pawn in the Trump-Putin duel. What happens behind closed doors can have far-reaching consequences.
Maduro finds himself at the center of a conflict with geostrategic consequences — perhaps even affecting Ukraine peace negotiations. The next meeting of Trump's top negotiators with Putin is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 2.
For years, Moscow has been considered the protector of Latin American regimes – from Havana to Caracas. Maduro recently threatened to repel “imperialist aggression” with 5,000 missiles from Russian warehouses. It also came to light that Russian general Oleg Makarevich personally supervised the maneuvers in Venezuela conducted together with local soldiers.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. Moscow, May 7, 2025EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV / PAP
It is worth adding that in December 2024, the Russian leader took former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and his family under his wing, gradually building something of a safe haven for political outcasts.
Trump between promises and real power
An actual U.S. invasion fleet has massed off the coast of Venezuela — and it appears there's more to it than sporadic raids on suspected drug-smuggling boats. As much as 25 percent of all operational U.S. warships currently operating in the area.
Modern F-35 fighters, landing craft, destroyer ships and 15,000 troops are on standby. soldiers. Over the weekend, Trump warned civilian aircraft traffic to avoid Venezuelan airspace.
It is also reported that in the background of this show of force, there is a growing scandal over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's alleged order to liquidate the survivors of an earlier attack on a suspected boat – an allegation that politicians in both parties characterize as a potential war crime, although Hegseth and Trump vehemently deny it.
However, Maduro, who has been considered a true master of political survival for years, may prove to be much more resistant than many observers today assume – both to international pressure and to actions aimed directly against his power.
In such a scenario, Trump may also encounter serious problems relatively quickly limitations of a military naturewhich will make it difficult for him to take decisive steps and show that even the power of the USA has its practical limits.
A troublesome situation for Trump
Although Trump does not rule out the use of American ground troops, a full-scale invasion of Venezuela seems likely unlikely — primarily for political reasons.
The president promised his MAGA supporters that he would not start any major wars. Meanwhile, attacks conducted solely from the air, the Maduro regime could survive – believes, among others, expert David Smildes from Tulane University.
The airstrikes may damage equipment, but they will not undermine the foundations of Maduro's power
– claims.
“If Trump withdraws his fleet from the Caribbean while Maduro is still in power, the autocrat will look like a winner,” he writes Wall Street Journal.
The key question is how far the Kremlin is willing to go to defend Maduro — especially now that Russia's attention is focused on the war in Ukraine.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
