Cuban Advisers Leaving Venezuela as U.S. Pressure Mounts on Caracas

Cuban security advisers, doctors, and other personnel have begun departing Venezuela in recent weeks amid growing pressure from the United States to weaken the longstanding alliance between Havana and Caracas, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

The departures come as Interim President Delcy Rodriguez’s government faces intense scrutiny from Washington. Rodriguez, who succeeded Nicolás Maduro after a U.S. military operation earlier this year, has reportedly shifted reliance away from Cuban security forces toward Venezuelan bodyguards.

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Shift in Venezuela’s Security Network

Historically, Cuba played a significant role in Venezuela’s political and security apparatus. Under both Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro, Cuban intelligence and military advisers were deeply embedded within Venezuela’s DGCIM counterintelligence unit and other elite security structures. Experts say this cooperation helped preserve the Chavista government’s grip on power for more than a decade.

However, four sources told Reuters that Cuban advisers are being removed from key intelligence posts, and some advisers along with Cuban medical workers have recently returned to Cuba.

It remains unclear whether these departures were ordered by Rodriguez or initiated by Cuban authorities amid diplomatic pressure from the United States.

U.S. Pressure and Strategic Goals

The Trump administration has publicly called for an end to Cuba’s security relationship with Venezuela. In a post on Truth Social in January, former President Donald Trump wrote that Cuba had benefited from Venezuelan oil in exchange for providing security services a practice the administration says should end.

A U.S. official told reporters that Washington maintains “a very good relationship with the leaders of Venezuela” and believes Rodriguez’s interests may align with U.S. objectives in the region. Economic sanctions, including a blockade on Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba, are part of broader U.S. efforts to weaken the strategic partnership between Havana and Caracas.

Cuban officials have responded by saying they are open to dialogue but have condemned the oil blockade and what they describe as U.S. intervention.

Continued Cuban Presence

Despite the departures, not all Cuban personnel have left Venezuela. Several Cuban doctors reportedly remain in the country, continuing their medical missions. Some intelligence operatives are believed to remain embedded to monitor evolving political conditions.

According to sources, Cuban professors also continue to teach at Venezuela’s state university for police and security forces indicating Havana’s influence is still present, though diminished.

Reactions and Analysis

Experts see Rodriguez’s actions as cautious and strategic. Frank Mora, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States, told reporters that Rodriguez is “treading very carefully,” attempting to distance Cuba until her position stabilizes, but not fully sever ties.

Similarly, John Polga‑Hecimovich, a professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, noted that while Cuban advisers did not ultimately protect Maduro against removal, they played a central role in sustaining the Chavista regime and its security structure for years.

What This Means

The shifting Cuban presence in Venezuela comes at a fraught moment for both countries. Cuba has long relied on Venezuelan oil and economic cooperation, while successive Venezuelan governments depended on Cuban intelligence and security expertise to maintain control.

Now, with political change in Caracas and diplomatic pressure from Washington, that alliance is under strain. How deeply Cuba’s role will change remains to be seen, but the recent departures mark a significant moment in the geopolitics of the region.