Max Blumenthal on the Abduction of Maduro, Power in Caracas, and the Geopolitics of Venezuelan Resources
The reported abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January sent shockwaves across Latin America and reignited global debate over U.S. interventionism, regime change, and the strategic value of Venezuela’s vast natural resources. In a wide-ranging interview with Mario Nawfal, journalist and geopolitical analyst Max Blumenthal laid out a detailed interpretation of what may have occurred—and why the consequences are far from settled.
A “Kidnapping,” Not an Arrest
Blumenthal rejects the framing of Maduro’s removal as a lawful capture, describing it instead as an outright kidnapping carried out by the United States. What stunned him most was not only the brazenness of the operation, but the absence of meaningful resistance from Venezuelan air defenses or military forces. Given Venezuela’s known stockpiles of Russian-made air defense systems and portable missiles, Blumenthal argues that even a single downed U.S. helicopter would have created a political disaster for Washington. The fact that this did not occur raises serious questions about whether parts of the Venezuelan security apparatus were ordered to stand down—or whether some form of behind-the-scenes deal was already in motion.
The Deal Theory: Controlled Transition, Not Regime Collapse
According to Blumenthal, the most plausible explanation is not a full-scale invasion aimed at dismantling the Venezuelan state, but a negotiated operation designed to remove Maduro personally while preserving the broader Chavista power structure. In this scenario, the goal would be to install Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as a transitional figure—someone Washington believes it could pressure, isolate, and ultimately work with.
Blumenthal notes that the U.S. has repeatedly learned the hard way that total regime collapse leads to uncontrollable chaos, citing Iraq, Libya, and Syria as cautionary examples. Leaving Venezuela’s governing institutions intact avoids a power vacuum while opening the door to economic concessions, particularly in the energy sector.
Why Maria Corina Machado Was Sidelined
A key moment supporting this interpretation came when Donald Trump publicly dismissed opposition figure María Corina Machado as lacking sufficient support to govern Venezuela. Blumenthal says this was entirely predictable. Washington has already burned political capital backing figures like Juan Guaidó, whose failed parallel-government experiment exposed the limits of externally imposed leadership.
Instead of installing a hardline opposition figure, the U.S. appears to be betting on internal fracture—weakening Chavismo from within while keeping the state functional enough to sign contracts and reopen oil flows on Washington’s terms.
Oil, China, and the Real Stakes
At the heart of the crisis lies Venezuela’s oil. Sitting atop the world’s largest proven crude reserves, the country represents a strategic prize not only for the U.S., but also for China and Russia. Blumenthal emphasizes that Venezuela’s recent economic stabilization—modest but real—was driven largely by deepening ties with Beijing. China had become the primary destination for Venezuelan oil exports, helping production recover from historic lows.
This trajectory, Blumenthal argues, directly threatened U.S. financial dominance. Once sanctioned states find ways to trade outside the dollar system, the foundations of U.S. global power begin to erode. In this sense, Venezuela’s partial recovery was not a failure of sanctions—but proof that they were losing effectiveness.
Sanctions, Collapse, and “Financial Warfare”
Blumenthal places the blame for Venezuela’s economic collapse squarely on U.S. sanctions and what he calls “financial terrorism.” From the freezing of overseas assets to the seizure of billions in gold reserves and the effective blockade of oil exports, Venezuela has been subjected to pressures no modern economy could withstand unscathed.
While acknowledging corruption and mismanagement within Venezuela’s state oil company, Blumenthal notes that many of those accused of large-scale theft fled to the United States and were shielded there. Meanwhile, the population at home bore the brunt of shortages, inflation, and mass emigration—conditions later cited as justification for further intervention.
Delcy Rodríguez: Pragmatist or Pressure Point?
Much of the uncertainty now centers on Delcy Rodríguez. Blumenthal describes her as politically skilled, media-savvy, and instrumental in stabilizing the economy during the COVID period. Yet he doubts that any individual leader—however capable—can navigate Venezuela out of crisis while facing existential pressure from the world’s most powerful military and financial system.
Trump’s reported threats toward Rodríguez underscore this reality. According to Blumenthal, the message from Washington is unmistakable: comply, or face removal by force. This approach, he argues, resembles the logic of a global mafia rather than international diplomacy.
What Happens Next?
Despite the dramatic nature of Maduro’s removal, Blumenthal cautions against assuming the crisis is over. Powerful figures within the Venezuelan military and ruling party remain mobilized, and any attempt to dismantle them could plunge the country into chaos. For now, relative calm prevails—but the underlying conflict between sovereignty and empire, resources and resistance, remains unresolved.
In Blumenthal’s view, Venezuela’s fate will not be decided by personalities alone. It will hinge on whether the country can defend its right to chart an independent economic path in a world where such independence is increasingly treated as a provocation.