In a dramatic revelation concerning the geopolitical landscape of South America, a newly leaked audio recording has shed light on the high-stakes moments following the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by United States forces. The recording, which captures the immediate aftermath of the military operation, features Delcy Rodríguez—then the Vice President and now the interim President—describing a chilling ultimatum issued by American authorities: comply within 15 minutes or face death.
The 15-Minute Ultimatum
The leaked audio, first brought to light by the local journalism group La Hora de Venezuela, provides a rare glimpse into the chaotic atmosphere that gripped the Venezuelan leadership during the raid. According to Rodríguez, the situation was one of absolute urgency. She recounted how US forces, having secured Maduro, delivered a message that left no room for negotiation. “They gave us 15 minutes to respond, or they would kill us,” Rodríguez stated in the recording, highlighting the lethal pressure exerted on the remaining cabinet members to yield to Washington’s immediate demands.
This revelation underscores the precision and aggression of the operation, suggesting that the US military and intelligence services were prepared to take extreme measures to ensure the swift transition of power or the neutralization of the remaining leadership.
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A Leadership in Crisis
The recording, which appears to have been captured during a high-level video call platform meeting, reveals a leadership team struggling to process the rapid collapse of their government. Rodríguez spoke for approximately six minutes on the call, expressing the emotional and political weight of the moment. She admitted that it “hurt” to have to assume such heavy responsibilities under the shadow of a foreign military intervention.
Beyond the immediate threat of violence, the audio captures a deep-seated fear among the Venezuelan elite: the perception of betrayal. The recording suggests that Rodríguez and her associates were intensely concerned about being branded as traitors by the Venezuelan public if they were seen as cooperating too closely or too quickly with the American “invaders.” This internal struggle for legitimacy was happening even as the physical threat to their lives loomed large.
Rumors of Assassination and Internal Complicity
The initial reports reaching the inner circle were even more dire than the reality of the capture. Rodríguez noted that she was initially informed that Maduro had been assassinated during the raid. This misinformation likely heightened the panic within the Miraflores Palace, as officials scrambled to determine who was still alive and who was in control.
Furthermore, the leaked audio touches upon the sensitive subject of “internal complicity.” There are strong suggestions within the conversation that Maduro’s capture was not solely the result of American tactical superiority but was facilitated by individuals within the Venezuelan government or military who may have provided actionable intelligence or assisted in bypassing security protocols. This “inside job” theory continues to fuel paranoia and purges within the remaining loyalist factions.
The Balancing Act of Delcy Rodríguez
Since the capture and subsequent removal of Maduro to an undisclosed location in US custody, Delcy Rodríguez has occupied a precarious position as interim leader. The leaked audio clarifies the dual strategy she has been forced to employ. To her domestic audience and the remnants of the Chavista movement, she project defiance, framing the event as an illegal imperialist kidnapping.
However, the recording also hints at the pragmatism behind closed doors. Even in those first frantic minutes, there were signals that the leadership was looking for a way to survive by communicating with the Trump administration. Rodríguez has had to strike a delicate balance: maintaining the revolutionary rhetoric necessary to prevent a total internal collapse while simultaneously signaling to Washington that she is a figure with whom they can eventually negotiate.
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