US Special Forces Veteran Begs Nobel Laureate Machado Not to Return to Venezuela
A U.S. special forces veteran who helped spirit Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado out of her country warned her publicly not to return because of ongoing threats to her safety.
Bryan Stern, founder of the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation, told CNN that the high-profile rescue was one of the most dangerous operations his team has ever undertaken and that he begged Machado not to go back to Venezuela, where a government crackdown continues.
The stakes are high: Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, spent more than a year in hiding after facing threats and an arrest warrant from Nicolás Maduro’s government before her secret extraction.
Stern said the mission, which lasted nearly 16 hours and unfolded largely at sea under dangerous conditions, was intensified by multiple foreign intelligence agencies tracking their movements.
New complication: Machado has publicly stated she plans to return to Venezuela despite the veteran’s warning, insisting her cause requires her presence even amid ongoing risk.
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“With all the dangers she faces possible arrest, torture or worse. I really don’t want to see her put in harm’s way,” Stern told CNN.
The caution from the veteran highlights the thin line between international support for Venezuela’s opposition and the real dangers a returning Machado could face at home.
Analysts say her return could further escalate tensions with the Maduro regime and intensify diplomatic strain with Western governments watching closely.
Next steps expected? Machado’s team may announce whether she will delay any return plans, and human rights groups are evaluating how to support her security abroad.
For now, safety warnings remain at the forefront of the debate over her next move.
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