Despite the operation Absolute Determination by the United States, which enabled the capture of Nicolás Maduro and the dismantling of his security apparatus, Cuban military personnel continue to operate in Venezuela, even within the country’s main military base, Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas.
In a 2019 interview with U.S. Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, Maduro denied that his security ring consisted of Cuban soldiers, insisting that those protecting him were all Venezuelans. “I have no Cuban military in my security ring (…) My security ring is made up of Venezuelans, professionals of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces” (1).
The Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, also denied the accusations, claiming that there was a supposed campaign of lies aimed at facilitating a U.S. military intervention in Venezuela (2).
This was contradicted when Cuban dictator Miguel Díaz-Canel reported that 32 Cuban military personnel died during the U.S. attempt to extract Maduro (3).
Additionally, military sources informed Venezuela Política that not only do Cuban personnel remain in the country, but they have also reinforced their armaments and equipment following the events that led to the attempted extraction of Maduro and Cilia Flores.
Cuban Military Continue Operations in Venezuela
With the approval of Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, the presence of Cuban military forces persists in the country, yet no authority has explained or justified this situation.
This silence is unacceptable, especially since, according to sources from Venezuela Política, the Cuban military are heavily armed, which supports claims that one of these officials fired at a U.S. aircraft.
Worse still, the facilities at Fuerte Tiuna held the bodies of the 31 Cubans who died during the events of January 3, 2026, without the necessary sanitary measures. Hence, images subsequently surfaced showing small boxes being sent to Cuba.
The image highlights in red one of Nicolás Maduro’s residences, while the green circle indicates a residential building nearby where the Cuban military were stationed to stay close to the ex-Chavista dictator. The yellow circle marks the current main unit of the Cuban military.
U.S. President Donald Trump commented on this Cuban protection of Nicolás Maduro via a post on his Truth Social account, warning the Cuban dictatorship that the supply of oil and money had come to an end.
Watch “The Trial of Nicolás Maduro in NY, the Case of Pollo Carvajal, Sandra Flores Interviews Me” on Sin Filtros:
Sources consulted:
1) Pérez, Alexis (January 6, 2026). “The Day Dictator Nicolás Maduro Denied the Presence of Cuban Military in His Security Ring: ‘They Are All Venezuelans’”. Infobae. https://www.infobae.com/venezuela/2026/01/07/el-dia-que-el-dictador-nicolas-maduro-nego-la-presencia-de-militares-cubanos-en-su-anillo-de-seguridad-son-todos-venezolanos/
2) VOA (February 19, 2019). “Cuba Denies Military Presence in Venezuela and Accuses the U.S. of Preparing Intervention”. https://www-voanews-com.translate.goog/a/cuba-denies-military-in-venezuela-charges-us-readies-intervention/4795545.html?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=es&_x_tr_hl=es&_x_tr_pto=tc
3) Noticias DW (January 5, 2026). “Cuba Confirms Death of 32 Military Personnel from the Island in Venezuela”. https://www.dw.com/es/cuba-confirma-muerte-de-32-militares-de-la-isla-en-venezuela/a-75387502