The Chris Cuomo Project What Really Happened in Venezuela (and What Comes Next)
Jan 8, 2026
Rick de la Torre, former CIA Caracas Station Chief and founder of Tower Strategy, shares insights on the complex reality in Venezuela following recent U.S. interventions. He discusses the implications of retaining elements of the existing power structure for regional stability and the challenges that leaders like Maria Corina Machado and Juan Guaidó face in returning to power. The conversation also touches on the balance between military action and legal considerations, highlighting the shifting dynamics of oil and security in the region, and the nuanced motivations behind U.S. involvement.
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Pragmatic Retention Of Regime Elements
- Rick affirms a CIA-style assessment likely advised leaving parts of the regime to preserve stability and essential services.
- He calls this a pragmatic, short-lived compromise while transitioning to credible elections.
Sequence Governance, Then Hold Elections
- Do prioritize restoring credible elections and enabling exiled opposition to return rather than instant installs.
- Rick recommends sequencing governance to build legitimacy and avoid chaos from immediate forced transitions.
Avoid Large-Scale Occupation
- Rick argues American boots on the ground are unnecessary and would provoke heavy resistance and bloodshed.
- He says the surgical strike and regional leverage achieve goals without long-term occupation.