Venezuelan Opposition Figure Endorses Military Action Against Maduro, Indicted by U.S. with $15 Million Bounty

A prominent Venezuelan lawyer and writer, Emmanuel Rincón, has publicly voiced support for military intervention as a means to remove the government of Nicolás Maduro, which he labels a "narcoterrorist cartel." This declaration highlights the deep-seated frustration among some Venezuelans regarding the country's protracted political and humanitarian crisis. The call for military force aligns with the United States' long-standing position, which has indicted Maduro and offered a substantial reward for his capture.

The characterization of the Maduro administration as a "narcoterrorist cartel" is a designation frequently used by U.S. officials, who have issued indictments against Maduro and his associates for alleged involvement in drug trafficking and corruption. The U.S. Department of Justice notably announced a $15 million bounty for information leading to Maduro's arrest, asserting his leadership of the "Cartel of the Suns." This underscores Washington's view of the Venezuelan government as an illegitimate entity engaged in illicit activities.

Rincón's statement, shared on social media, explicitly declared, "> "NOSOTROS LOS VENEZOLANOS APOYAMOS CUALQUIER ESFUERZO PARA DESTRUIR AL CARTEL NARCOTERRORISTA COMANDADO POR MADURO QUE DESTRUYÓ NUESTRA NACIÓN. INCLUYENDO LA FUERZA MILITAR." This sentiment reflects a desperate plea for change, stemming from widespread reports of a profound humanitarian crisis and severe human rights violations within Venezuela. A 2024 report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) detailed the regime's use of "state terrorism practices," including arbitrary arrests, torture, and suppression of dissent, particularly following the contentious July 2024 presidential elections, which saw reports of 25 deaths in post-election repression and widespread irregularities.

Discussions of military intervention in Venezuela have surfaced previously, notably with the failed "Operation Gideon" in 2020, an attempt by Venezuelan dissidents and private security firms to remove Maduro. While the U.S. has consistently denied direct involvement in such operations, recent reports indicate that the U.S. has been "aggressively stoking tensions" and "creating conditions that could lead to a military confrontation," a development Rincón himself highlighted in a separate tweet.

In response to external pressures and internal opposition, the Maduro government has consistently denounced such calls as foreign interference and has mobilized its own militias, vowing to defend national sovereignty. Top Venezuelan officials have issued strong warnings against any unauthorized entry into the country, threatening imprisonment for foreigners. The ongoing tensions and calls for military solutions continue to fuel regional instability and draw international scrutiny to Venezuela's protracted crisis.