Sources familiar with the matter say communication channels remained open even after the January 3 raid, highlighting Cabello’s central role in post-Maduro stability.

According to multiple officials, the talks began early in the current Trump administration and continued right up to Maduro’s ouster.

These communications were aimed at managing risks inside Venezuela and preventing a violent backlash from security forces loyal to Cabello.

US officials reportedly warned Cabello against using the intelligence services, police, military units, or pro-government militias under his influence to target political opponents.

Those forces largely survived the raid intact and still represent the strongest coercive power inside the country.

Cabello, aged 62, was named in the same US drug trafficking indictment used to justify Maduro’s arrest. Despite this, he was not detained during the operation, raising questions among analysts and lawmakers.

Sources said discussions with Cabello also touched on US sanctions imposed against him and the criminal indictment he faces. The talks continued in the weeks after Maduro’s removal, underscoring Washington’s concern about preventing internal chaos.

US officials believe that if Cabello were to mobilize the forces he controls, it could destabilize Venezuela and threaten interim President Delcy Rodriguez’s hold on power.

Maintaining communication with him is seen as a way to reduce that risk during the fragile transition period.

It remains unclear whether the discussions included any understanding about Venezuela’s future governance structure. There is also uncertainty over whether Cabello has complied with US warnings to avoid repression.

Publicly, Cabello has pledged unity with Rodriguez, whom President Donald Trump has praised as a key partner in the post-Maduro phase.
Behind the scenes, however, Cabello is widely viewed as a potential spoiler.

Rodriguez is considered the cornerstone of Washington’s strategy for stabilizing Venezuela while accessing its vast oil reserves. Cabello’s influence could either reinforce that plan or derail it entirely.

Sources said Cabello has communicated with the US both directly and through intermediaries. All sources requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions.

The White House and the Venezuelan government did not respond to requests for comment. The communications have not been previously disclosed.

Cabello has long been regarded as Venezuela’s second most powerful figure. A former military officer and close ally of late President Hugo Chavez, he later became Maduro’s most feared enforcer.

He has wielded control over military intelligence, civilian counterintelligence agencies, and pro-government militias known as colectivos. These armed groups have been accused of violently suppressing protests and intimidating opponents.

Although Cabello and Rodriguez have worked within the same power structures for years, they are not considered close allies. Their rivalry adds another layer of uncertainty to Venezuela’s political transition.

US officials worry Cabello’s history of repression and internal power struggles could undermine reforms. At the same time, Washington sees him as necessary to maintain short-term order.

In 2020, the US indicted Cabello as a key figure in an alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking network. A reward for information leading to his arrest has since risen to 25 million dollars.

Cabello has consistently denied any involvement in drug trafficking. He has also publicly condemned US intervention, stating that Venezuela will not surrender.

Following Maduro’s removal, reports of aggressive security checkpoints have declined. Both the US and Venezuelan authorities say some political prisoners are being released, though rights groups argue progress is slow.

Cabello, as interior minister, is overseeing the release process. Hundreds of detainees reportedly remain in custody.

In a post on social media, the president directed airlines, pilots, and individuals associated with illicit activity to assume that Venezuelan airspace was off limits, but did not indicate whether the United States intended to enforce such a declaration or whether domestic aviation operators would be required to adjust routes in response.

Officials familiar with U.S. military operations said they were unaware of any active planning related to the closure of Venezuelan airspace and noted that no instructions or operational alerts had been communicated through regular defense channels, raising doubts about whether the statement reflected authorized policy.

The Pentagon did not comment on the matter, and the White House offered no additional explanation, leaving analysts to assess whether the message represented a strategic signal designed to apply pressure on Venezuela’s leadership or an informal warning without immediate operational consequences.

Authorities in Caracas denounced the comments, describing them as an encroachment on national sovereignty and arguing that the remarks did not align with international aviation norms, established diplomatic principles, or the rights of states to govern flight operations within their borders.

Venezuelan officials maintained that airspace management is a sovereign responsibility and said no foreign government has the authority to impose restrictions without formal international coordination or mutually agreed frameworks that respect non-intervention standards.

The president’s statements came during continued debate over Washington’s approach to Venezuela, as U.S. officials accuse President Nicolas Maduro’s government of involvement in illicit drug trafficking activity, allegations the Venezuelan leadership rejects as politically driven and unsupported by verified evidence.

Security analysts noted that creating or enforcing any form of airspace restriction would require structured planning, clear rules of engagement, and considerable military resources, adding that without logistical preparation or allied coordination, the declaration is unlikely to translate into immediate enforcement actions.

One retired military commander said that the absence of detailed operational guidance makes it difficult to interpret the statement as a binding directive, explaining that airspace enforcement normally requires surveillance assets, aircraft deployment, regional partnerships, and defined strategic outcomes.

The United States has increased its military presence in the Caribbean in recent years as part of efforts to counter transnational drug trafficking operations, conducting reconnaissance missions and maritime interdiction activities around Venezuelan territorial waters to curb suspected smuggling routes.

Multiple policy options have been evaluated by U.S. agencies regarding Venezuela, some of which involve pressure aimed at constraining the Maduro administration, though officials have avoided confirming whether major escalations are under consideration and have not disclosed details about internal deliberations.

Venezuela recently withdrew operating permissions for several international airlines following earlier aviation advisories issued by U.S. authorities, creating uncertainty for commercial operators and raising questions about future route planning, safety assessments, and regional travel logistics.

Maduro has repeatedly argued that external pressure will not alter government policy, insisting that Venezuelan institutions and citizens remain opposed to foreign intervention and warning that unilateral measures could contribute to broader instability across Latin America.

The U.S. president, speaking to military personnel earlier in the week, suggested that land-based efforts to address suspected drug trafficking near Venezuela may begin soon, though he provided no details about locations, operational scope, or collaboration with regional partners on the ground.

As regional governments and aviation authorities monitor the situation, the president’s statement has added to widespread uncertainty regarding future U.S. actions, leaving analysts awaiting further information to determine whether any operational, diplomatic, or regulatory changes will follow.

The declaration, posted on Trump’s social media account, offered no specifics on enforcement mechanisms but signaled a tougher stance amid heightened military activity in the region.

In the message, the president warned airlines, pilots and criminal networks that the airspace surrounding Venezuela is off-limits and should be avoided entirely.

This announcement follows months of increased U.S. military operations in the Caribbean and broader concerns about regional security as tensions with Caracas continue to rise.

Officials from Venezuela’s communications ministry have not yet responded publicly to the statement, leaving uncertainty about how the Maduro government will react to the latest move from Washington.

The U.S. Defense Department has also not issued additional clarification, contributing to questions about the scope, duration and implications of the declared airspace restrictions.

For months, U.S. forces have been conducting strikes against suspected drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean as part of a broader counter-narcotics campaign.

These operations have intensified alongside a military buildup that Washington says is intended to deter trafficking networks and challenge criminal groups operating near Venezuela.

Trump has also authorized covert operations inside Venezuela carried out by U.S. intelligence agencies, a decision that has contributed to a climate of deep distrust between Washington and Caracas.

The president recently told U.S. service members that ground operations aimed at curbing Venezuelan drug trafficking may begin soon, indicating a significant expansion of regional military engagement.

Last week, U.S. aviation authorities alerted commercial airlines about potential risks when flying over Venezuelan territory due to what they described as worsening security conditions and increased military activity.

The advisory warned pilots to exercise extreme caution, citing unpredictable developments that could threaten civilian aircraft traveling through the region.

In response to the aviation advisory, Venezuelan authorities revoked operating rights for six major international airlines that had previously suspended their services to the country.

The decision added further strain to Venezuela’s already limited air travel connections and highlighted the political repercussions surrounding the airspace dispute.

U.S. officials have long accused the Maduro government of participating in international drug trafficking, allegations that Maduro strongly denies.

The Venezuelan president maintains that Washington is attempting to remove him from power and insists that the country’s citizens and armed forces will resist foreign intervention.

Since taking office in 2013, Maduro has faced domestic unrest, economic collapse and political challenges that have drawn international scrutiny.

The escalating military presence of the United States near Venezuela has added new layers of uncertainty to the situation, with critics warning of potential conflict in the region.

Though U.S. military operations have officially focused on counter-narcotics missions, analysts note that the level of deployed firepower far exceeds what is typically required for such tasks.

To date, U.S. forces have carried out more than 20 strikes on suspected drug-transporting vessels across the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in dozens of casualties.

Washington’s latest declaration regarding Venezuelan airspace is expected to draw international attention and may heighten diplomatic tensions in the Western Hemisphere.

Regional governments are closely monitoring the situation, concerned about the broader implications of increased military activity and the potential for escalation between the United States and Venezuela.

As the situation develops, experts say the coming weeks may bring further announcements that deepen the standoff or introduce new measures affecting travel, regional stability and international aviation routes.

For now, the designation of Venezuelan airspace as completely closed marks a new and uncertain phase in a long-running confrontation between the two nations.