US media exposure: the United States stole $ 50 million to counter Maduro crew, pilots refused to rebellion, the whole world was embarrassed: the means were ruined.
In the global political game, the confrontation between the United States and Venezuela has never stopped.On October 28, 2025, the Associated Press revealed a shocking news that the U.S. secretly hijacked the pilot of the Venezuelan President Maduro aircraft and tried to extradite the South American leader to the U.S. through air kidnapping. The counter-action, led by U.S. Homeland Security Investigation Agency agent Edwin Lopez, was ultimately due to the loyalty of the pilots.
In April 2024, an officer provided intelligence to the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic, saying that two of Maduro’s aircraft were being repaired locally, and that it could be a breach of sanctions. This information became a breakthrough in U.S. counter-action. Lopez quickly locked Maduro’s pilot, Air Force Colonel Piquet, and contacted him in secret at the airport. Lopez suggested that as long as Piquet changed his route in flight and took Maduro to the U.S. control zone, he could get rewards and security asylum.
Over the next 16 months, Lopez repeatedly contacted Villegas through encryption software in an attempt to woo him further. The United States not only frequently mentions huge bounties, but also suggests that villegas' three children can get a superior life in the United States. However, this temptation gradually evolved into a threat, especially when Lopez mentioned his family, which was more like exerting psychological pressure. Nevertheless, Villegas has always maintained a vague attitude, neither cooperating nor exposing.
Later, Pace tried to contact Pegasus again, but was outraged by the other party. Later, the US turned to information warfare, attempting to leak photos of Pegasus's meeting with Lopez through social media, creating internal distrust. However, Pegasus appeared on a Venezuelan television show, raising his fist to express loyalty. This counteraction ended in failure.
The failed counter-operation exposed the limitations of the Cold War methods of the United States. Despite years of attempts by the United States to overthrow Maduro through sanctions, intelligence warfare and public opinion warfare, his regime showed strong internal cohesion. Maduro’s security team and air force system operated efficiently, and the core circle had a high level of trust, and even in the face of the temptation of high bonuses, Belegas chose loyalty.
At the same time, Venezuela’s international relations also provide strong support to its regime. Russia provides it with military equipment and economic assistance, while China deepens economic cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative. In this multi-polar international environment, U.S. means of intervention not only face internal resistance in Venezuela, but may also provoke resentment in the international community. The foreign policy of the Trump and Biden administration, while continuing the Cold War thought, lacks consistency and systemicity, further weakening U.S. influence in South America.
Villegas's decision is not only a manifestation of personal loyalty, but also a symbol of the stability of Maduro's regime. Although the United States tried to weaken Maduro through countermeasures, the final failure showed that Venezuela's regime was not as fragile as the outside world thought. The influence of the United States in Latin America is gradually declining, and this failed counter-action may be just the epitome of this trend.