Venezuelan far-right opposition politician Leopoldo López. File photo.
Venezuelan far-right opposition figure Leopoldo López was involved in the planning of Operation Gideon, an invasion plot designed to destabilize Venezuela in 2020 by overthrowing the constitutional President Nicolás Maduro, according to Canadian-American mercenary Jordan Goudreau, the commander of the failed attempt.
In a video chat on Thursday, March 20, Goudreau stated that López was not only fully aware and informed of the plot but also participated in its planning.
“Yes, absolutely true, I thought this was common knowledge,” Goudreau responded when asked about López’s actions in violation of Venezuelan sovereignty.
🇺🇸 Jordan Goudrea informó que Leopoldo López financió una operación terrorista que buscaba asesinar al presidente Maduro.
📌 Vía: VTV pic.twitter.com/fhzIXlfwA0
— 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖 (@polianalitica) March 20, 2025
The former US Special Forces member laughed sarcastically at a video of López denying any involvement in or planning for the operation. Goudreau expressed his disdain for the cynicism of the opposition politician, who remains a fugitive from the Venezuelan judiciary.
Goudreau also revealed that Colombia’s National Intelligence Directorate (DNI), during the government of Iván Duque, was aware of Operation Gideon. This information supports claims that the operation received backing from foreign actors. The mercenary emphasized that the Colombian DNI actively participated in coordinating efforts aimed at destabilizing Venezuela.
When Everything Seemed Like It Could Not Get Any Worse, Mercenary Goudreau Shows Up
The involvement of the CIA and the DNI in the operation was a central focus of Goudreau’s statements. He asserted that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) collaborated with the Colombian DNI to carry out the subversive maneuvers. Goudreau also confirmed that he personally knew Leopoldo López and Juan Guaidó, whom he described as business partners. Additionally, he mentioned that Lester Toledo, a close collaborator of Guaidó, actively participated in discussions prior to the operation.
Goudreau explained that two groups hired him for the operation: one representing the US government and led by CIA agent George Betancourt, and another representing Lester Toledo. “The alliance of the Venezuelan opposition was with the CIA and the Colombian intelligence service,” Goudreau said. These statements confirm the direct involvement of foreign governments in the invasion attempt.
Finally, Goudreau criticized US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy toward Venezuela, pointing out that Trump distrusted the Venezuelan opposition. He also mentioned Robert Colina, alias Pantera, who was killed during the attempted entry of mercenaries into Macuto, La Guaira state, from Colombia. Goudreau did not hesitate to call opposition figures Iván Simonovis and Juan José Rendón “traitors,” highlighting the divisions and internal conflicts within the opposition groups.
(RedRadioVE) by Jhulimar Fraga
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SC/DZ
