How a US Military Vet Aided María Corina Machado Flee Her Homeland

This audacious escape of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a long, “scary” and very wet boat journey in the pitch black of night, according to the US veteran who claims to have commanded the operation.

The Dangerous Nocturnal Crossing

The rescue organizer, who leads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the mission in a recent interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing dark and choppy conditions that simultaneously offered ideal concealment for the escape.

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the bigger the swells, the harder it is for radar to see,” he remarked.

He recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she left Venezuela, where she had been lying low since August 2024 fearing persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Step-by-Step Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day trip to an undisclosed location to board a flight, as part of orchestrated just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, very hard to see, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My crew and I were drenched. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern noted.

Regarding her state, he commented, “She was very happy. She was very excited. She was very tired,” adding that about two dozen people were actively participating within his team.

Confirmation and Concealment

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was behind the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This report comes after previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her safe house in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share details about the land operation, referencing his company’s future work in the country.

Funding and US Involvement

He stated publicly the mission was funded through “several benefactors” – with no US officials involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, at least not that I know of,” Stern said.

He said, however, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the US military regarding locations and strategy, primarily to prevent being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Admiration

Machado said she had US support to leave Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though it is not clear how or when.

Stern said his group would play no part in a return mission, as it worked only on extracting individuals from countries, not in. “She must decide that for herself. But I think she should not go back. But she wants to. She is a genuine inspiration,” he said.