La Habana/ The Cuban presence in Venezuela is experiencing one of its most uncertain moments in over two decades, as the two countries’ strategic alliance—based on an exchange of oil for professional services—faces upheaval. The capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. Troops on January 3rd accelerated a process described by sources in Caracas as a progressive “descubanización” of the country, visible in both official discourse and daily life.
A Changing Dynamic
“I am careful when I go out not to speak so they don’t notice my accent because Cubans are no longer welcome here,” says Mariana, a 32-year-old Cuban doctor on official assignment in Caracas, in a statement to 14ymedio. The doctor, who requested anonymity, says her medical activity has drastically decreased in recent weeks. “Since the 3rd, I’ve seen highly few patients,” she explains. According to her testimony, Cuban doctors are in a state of virtual “barracks,” without clear guidance on their continued assignment or a possible return to the Island.
“Several colleagues have already returned, but so far they are doctors who had finished their mission and were waiting for their flight back,” she assures. “But the word is that we are all going to leave in the coming months because the cooperation agreement will not be renewed.” Another sign reinforcing this imminent departure is the poor supply of resources: “We have practically not received the resources we necessitate for consultations and procedures; we don’t know what we will have to work with.”
The doctor adds that, unlike in previous years, the usual meetings to communicate annual plans for Cuban missions in Venezuela were not held in January 2026. “Normally, these guidelines are given from the end of January, but this year there has been nothing,” she says. The lack of instructions reinforces a sense of uncertainty among cooperating personnel, in a political context marked by the redefinition of alliances and the growing U.S. Presence in Venezuela.
Allegations of Cuban Influence
It is estimated that around 30,000 Cuban professionals—including doctors, sports trainers, technical advisors, and personnel linked to intelligence and security services—currently work in Venezuela as part of agreements signed during the governments of Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez. The Venezuelan opposition has repeatedly denounced this cooperation as a form of interference and loss of sovereignty, arguing that key sectors of the state were under Cuban influence.
For years, critics have spoken of a “Cubanization” that has permeated surveillance and social control schemes, even public discourse, work practices in ministries and official institutions, and the presence of personnel from the Island in torture centers like El Helicoide, headquarters of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin) in Caracas.
Several detainees in these centers have reported hearing a “Cuban accent” among the interrogators, according to a 2024 report published in El Confidencial. This participation would not be isolated, but part of cooperation agreements signed between Havana and Caracas that, according to critics, have allowed the transmission of repression techniques and the direct presence of Cuban commissioners in planning and control roles within the Venezuelan security apparatus.
Organizations like the Casla Institute have brought these complaints to international bodies, arguing that the involvement of Cuban officials in repression, arbitrary detentions, and torture in El Helicoide and other detention centers is not accidental, but the result of decades of alliances between the two states. These complaints allege that the repressive machinery designed on the Island contributed to systematizing practices of state violence, including detention without due process, torture interrogations, and enforced disappearances, used to punish dissidents and opponents of the Venezuelan government.
A Shift in Alliances
This dynamic began to unravel after Maduro’s detention and the rise of Delcy Rodríguez as a central figure in the current government. Since then, Caracas has sent signals of symbolic and practical distancing from Havana. The presence of the Cuban flag has been reduced in recent official events, and changes have been made in positions held by Cuban nationals or those closely linked to bilateral cooperation.
The frequent presence of high-ranking Cuban officials has also diminished. It was rare for a week to pass without the Island’s news outlets broadcasting the arrival of a Cuban leader in Caracas, where they were greeted with honors. Those red carpets and handshakes now appear to be focused on emissaries from the United States.
One widely discussed move was the replacement in the Ministry of Tourism, where Leticia Gómez, a Cuban national, was replaced by one of Diosdado Cabello’s daughters, a decision interpreted as part of a process to reduce the weight of foreign presence. Local analysts point out that these moves seek to send a message to both the Venezuelan population and Washington, at a time when the new political balance remains under negotiation.
On the streets of Venezuela, the change is also noticeable. Yusniel, a Cuban sports trainer who has been in Caracas for more than two years and requested a pseudonym, says he has taken extra precautions. “Being Cuban here now is no longer something you can openly display,” he says. He reports hearing direct criticism after rumors circulated for years about the participation of Cubans in Maduro’s security detail. “That has weighed heavily on people’s perceptions,” he adds. “The label of interventionists can’t be removed from us.”
At the same time, Yusniel says several Venezuelan friends have offered him help if he decides to stay in the country. “They tell me that Venezuela has come out of the tunnel and that Cuba is next,” he says. The phrase encapsulates a sentiment repeated in private conversations: the idea that the collapse of the Chavista model could foreshadow similar transformations on the Island, and that staying in Venezuela could represent an opportunity in the face of a possible return to Cuba.
Impact on Healthcare and the Cuban Economy
The impact of this “descubanización” is particularly noticeable in the healthcare system. For years, clinics and hospitals in popular neighborhoods of Caracas and other cities have been largely staffed by Cuban personnel. However, since January, medical care has noticeably decreased in several centers.
For Cuba, the pullback of its presence in Venezuela represents a major economic blow. Medical and technical missions in the oil-rich country have been one of the government’s main sources of foreign exchange for years. An accelerated withdrawal or significant reduction of this contingent exacerbates the Island’s already precarious financial situation, marked by declining tourism, fuel shortages, and reduced international support.
So far, neither Havana nor Caracas has officially announced the end of cooperation. The future of the thousands of Cubans on assignment will largely depend on the extent to which the United States extends its influence over the new Venezuelan scenario and whether the Delcy Rodríguez government chooses to maintain, renegotiate, or dismantle the agreements inherited from Chavismo. Meanwhile, Mariana and Yusniel await a decision that has not yet arrived and avoid saying phrases in public that betray their origin, like the very Cuban: “Chico, la cosa está mala.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the shift in the relationship between Cuba and Venezuela?
The capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. Troops on January 3rd accelerated a process of “descubanización” in Venezuela, signaling a potential re-evaluation of alliances and a growing U.S. Presence, according to sources.
How are Cuban professionals in Venezuela being affected?
Cuban doctors report a reduction in their workload and a state of “barracks,” lacking clear instructions about their future. Some have already returned to Cuba, and there is a widespread expectation that the cooperation agreement will not be renewed.
What impact could this have on Cuba’s economy?
The potential withdrawal of Cuban missions from Venezuela represents a significant economic blow to Cuba, as these missions have been a major source of foreign exchange.
As the political landscape in Venezuela continues to evolve, what challenges and opportunities might lie ahead for Cuba and its long-standing partnerships in the region?
