TL;DR
María Corina Machado was extracted from Venezuela by a team led by U.S. Special Forces veteran Bryan Stern of the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation and flown to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. The sea operation, dubbed Operation Golden Dynamite, faced rough conditions, missed rendezvous points and concerns about detection by government or criminal actors.
What happened
María Corina Machado spent more than a year in hiding after her opposition movement was recorded as defeating Nicolás Maduro in last year's election; Maduro refused to cede power and launched a crackdown. A privately run extraction led by U.S. Special Forces veteran Bryan Stern, founder of the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation, moved to get her out in a mission Stern called Operation Golden Dynamite. Because land travel risked exposure at checkpoints, the team opted for a sea route and coordinated with some U.S. officials who were aware of activity in the area. A planned mid-sea rendezvous failed, so crews pivoted to meet in rough conditions — described as 10-foot waves and pitch darkness — before Stern identified Machado by voice and brought her aboard. The group reached a Caribbean island (declined to be named; widely reported elsewhere as Curaçao) where a private plane took her onward to Oslo.
Why it matters
- Demonstrates the role private veteran groups can play in high-risk political extractions.
- Raises questions about how private operations intersect with official government awareness or coordination.
- Highlights the lengths opposition figures may need to go to in order to leave countries where authorities tighten controls.
- Underscores security risks in maritime approaches when military forces and anti-trafficking measures are active in a region.
Key facts
- María Corina Machado is this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
- She spent more than a year in hiding after an opposition victory that international observers validated in voting records.
- Nicolás Maduro refused to leave office and ordered a crackdown on the opposition, according to the reporting.
- The extraction was led by Bryan Stern, a U.S. Special Forces veteran and founder of the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation.
- The mission’s name was Operation Golden Dynamite.
- A land route was rejected due to checkpoints where Machado might be recognized; the team chose a sea route.
- Stern said he coordinated with U.S. officials who were aware they would be operating in the area.
- U.S. military forces have increased presence off Venezuela’s coast, destroying nearly two dozen alleged narco-trafficking boats and killing at least 87 people in recent months, per the source.
- A scheduled rendezvous at sea failed; crews met in darkness amid 10-foot waves before Machado was identified and taken aboard.
- After reaching a Caribbean island (unnamed by Stern), Machado boarded a private plane to Oslo.
What to watch next
- Whether formal inquiries or oversight examine the extent of U.S. official knowledge or involvement: not confirmed in the source.
- How the Maduro government responds diplomatically or politically to the extraction: not confirmed in the source.
- Potential legal or diplomatic scrutiny of private extraction operations operating near areas with active military interdictions: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Extraction operation: A coordinated effort to remove a person from a dangerous or hostile environment and relocate them to safety.
- Grey Bull Rescue Foundation: A private organization founded by U.S. military veterans that conducts rescue and extraction missions; described in the source as led by Bryan Stern.
- Nobel Peace Prize: An international award given annually to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to peace.
- Rendezvous point: A prearranged location where two or more parties plan to meet, often used in maritime or covert operations.
Reader FAQ
Who led the operation to get Machado out of Venezuela?
The operation was led by Bryan Stern, a U.S. Special Forces veteran and founder of the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation, according to the source.
How was she moved out of the country?
Machado was extracted by sea in a nighttime operation, taken to a Caribbean island, and then flown by private plane to Oslo.
Did U.S. officials know about the operation?
Stern said he coordinated with U.S. officials who were aware they would be operating in the area.
Were there injuries or casualties during the extraction?
Not confirmed in the source.
Why couldn't she travel overland?
A land route was ruled out because checkpoints raised the risk she would be recognized, per the reporting.
Play Live Radio THE AMERICAS 'She's awesome': How U.S. veterans helped Venezuela's Machado escape DECEMBER 12, 20255:33 PM ET HEARD ON ALL THINGS CONSIDERED Carrie Kahn LISTEN· 3:09 3-Minute Listen…
Sources
- U.S. veterans helped Venezuela's Machado escape
- U.S. Veterans Helped Venezuela's Machado Escape to Oslo
- Special forces veteran who rescued Machado begs her not …
- How an Army reservist helped Venezuela's Nobel laureate …
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