Diosdado Cabello, a senior Venezuelan government minister with a $25 million bounty on his head from the United States, has recently emerged as a key partner in ongoing cooperation between Venezuelan authorities and U.S. officials. Despite longstanding allegations against him—including charges of drug trafficking, corruption, and human rights abuses—Cabello has maintained a prominent role within Venezuela's interim government, which is currently supported by the United States following a military intervention earlier this year.
Cabello, a founding member of Venezuela’s ruling Socialist Party, has been accused by U.S. prosecutors of coordinating the shipment of over five tons of cocaine from Venezuela. He is also sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for corruption and has been implicated by the United Nations in the country’s repression of political opponents. Additionally, Chile has accused him of orchestrating the assassination of an exiled Venezuelan dissident in its capital, an allegation complicated by Venezuela’s restrictive extradition policies.
Following a January raid by U.S. Special Forces that led to the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro, the country effectively became a U.S. protectorate. The Trump administration opted to work with figures from Maduro’s regime rather than with the pro-democracy opposition, a strategy that has brought several officials wanted by the United States back into formal positions of power. Cabello retained his position as interior minister and has since positioned himself as an advocate for closer cooperation with the United States, including in response efforts to recent earthquakes that struck Venezuela.
In June, Cabello toured earthquake-affected areas alongside John Barrett, the head of the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela. Videos from aid organizations show Barrett shaking Cabello’s hand and engaging amicably with him. Despite this apparent collaboration, U.S. officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio have reiterated that the bounty on Cabello remains unchanged and that U.S. policy toward him has not softened.
Cabello forms part of an informal ruling coalition alongside interim president Delcy Rodríguez and her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, who leads the Venezuelan congress. This "triumvirate" has been credited with maintaining domestic stability amid political uncertainty, with Cabello responsible for internal security. Analysts note that while the group has set aside longstanding rivalries to preserve power under U.S. influence, mutual trust remains limited.
Cabello has significantly altered his public image since the January intervention, shifting from an outspoken critic of the United States to a figure promoting military cooperation with Washington. Reports indicate he has also sought to consolidate his influence by backing his daughter, Daniella Cabello—the tourism minister—as a potential governing party candidate in upcoming elections, posited as a more electorally viable alternative to Rodríguez.
Cabello has maintained control over pro-government paramilitary groups, which have generally refrained from street violence since Maduro’s removal. He also ordered a recent raid targeting Niño Guerrero, a gang leader linked to the U.S.-designated terrorist group Tren de Aragua and wanted by American authorities. Although Venezuelan forces failed to capture Guerrero during the operation, he was subsequently killed by a U.S. drone strike.
Other senior Venezuelan officials with U.S. sanctions, such as Defense Minister Gen. Gustavo González López and counterintelligence officer Col. Alexander Granko, have also remained close to both Venezuelan and U.S. military activities. Granko, for instance, was seen near U.S. military helicopters at Venezuela’s main airport despite prior U.S. sanctions for alleged human rights abuses.
The collaboration between U.S. officials and Venezuelan government figures wanted for serious crimes underscores the complex and sometimes contradictory dynamics shaping Venezuela’s current political landscape. While U.S. authorities continue to hold Cabello and others accountable legally, on-the-ground cooperation appears driven by pragmatic considerations aimed at stabilizing the country and facilitating humanitarian aid efforts. Nonetheless, Cabello’s position remains uncertain, as shifts in U.S. policy could result in renewed efforts to arrest him.