The Vatican secretly proposed exfiltrating Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro to Russia just days before his capture by US special forces, according to diplomatic sources familiar with the negotiations. This revelation exposes the extraordinary behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts that preceded one of the most dramatic political arrests in modern Latin American history.
Senior Vatican officials reportedly contacted both Russian and Venezuelan representatives in early January 2026, offering to broker a deal that would have seen Maduro flee to Moscow in exchange for a peaceful transition of power. The Holy See viewed this arrangement as a way to prevent potential bloodshed and protect Venezuelan civilians from a violent confrontation between Maduro loyalists and opposition forces.
The proposed plan involved Maduro departing Caracas on a Vatican-chartered flight to an undisclosed European location before continuing to Russia, where he would receive political asylum. Russian officials initially expressed interest in the proposal, according to sources, but negotiations stalled when the Trump administration made clear that Washington would pursue Maduro regardless of where he sought refuge.
Maduro reportedly rejected the Vatican offer, believing he could maintain power with support from remaining military allies and Cuban security advisers. This miscalculation proved fatal to his presidency when US forces launched their operation just days later, capturing him at a Caracas compound where he had been coordinating resistance efforts.
The Vatican's intervention reflects its longstanding role as a mediator in Latin American crises, having previously facilitated dialogue between the Colombian government and FARC rebels, as well as the historic US-Cuba rapprochement under Pope Francis. Vatican officials declined to comment on the specific details of the Maduro proposal but confirmed ongoing concern for the Venezuelan people.
The failed exfiltration plan raises questions about what alternative path history might have taken. Maduro now faces extradition to the United States on drug trafficking and terrorism charges, while Venezuela's interim government struggles to restore stability. International observers suggest the Vatican may continue diplomatic efforts to secure humanitarian treatment for Maduro and his detained associates.
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