Cuban Security Forces and Doctors Leave Venezuela Amid U.S. Pressure, Signs of Strain in Two-Decade Alliance
Caracas, Venezuela | 22 February 2026 | The Global Journal
Amid mounting pressure from the United States, Cuban security advisers, intelligence personnel, doctors, and other officials have begun gradually leaving Venezuela. Analysts say the development signals visible cracks in the two-decade-long Caracas–Havana alliance.
Sources indicate that since the late 2000s, Cuban security and intelligence assistance had been active in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. Former President Nicolas Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chávez both relied heavily on Cuban forces to consolidate their security and maintain control.
However, since Interim President Delcy Rodríguez assumed office, the situation appears to have shifted. Reports suggest she has entrusted her personal security to Venezuelan bodyguards instead of Cuban personnel. Diplomatic sources say some Cuban members have already returned home, though the exact number remains unclear.
At the same time, a number of military advisers and undercover intelligence operatives are believed to be staying in Venezuela to monitor the evolving political situation.
As part of a long-standing bilateral arrangement, thousands of Cuban doctors, nurses, and sports trainers had been working in Venezuela. In exchange, oil-rich Venezuela supplied fuel to Cuba, which was vital for the island nation’s economy. However, recent U.S. sanctions and diplomatic pressure have destabilized that framework.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has long pursued efforts to weaken the Venezuela–Cuba alliance. Washington has already moved to block oil exports from Venezuela to Cuba, aiming to undermine Havana’s economic capacity.
According to analysts, the gradual withdrawal of Cuban personnel marks a significant turning point in Latin American leftist politics. The two-decade strategic partnership now faces a new reality, as the oil-backed security and public health cooperation structure moves toward possible restructuring.
