Delcy and Diosdado Still Believe They Are Negotiating with the Cardsharp

El primer error de Delcy Rodríguez y Diosdado Cabello es creer que aún están negociando. Siguen hablando como si el tablero fuese el mismo, como si los dados todavía rodaran en Miraflores y el humo de los discursos sirviera de cortina.

The first mistake made by Delcy Rodríguez and Diosdado Cabello is believing they are still negotiating. They continue speaking as if the board were the same, as if the dice were still rolling in Miraflores and the smoke from speeches could still serve as a smokescreen.

Protestan, patalean, levantan la ceja ante Washington, convencidos de que todavía pueden marcar agenda.

They protest, stomp their feet, raise an eyebrow at Washington, convinced they can still set the agenda.

Como si no hubieran entendido que la partida ya terminó…

As if they had not understood that the game is already over…

y que ellos no barajaron las cartas.

and that they were not the ones who shuffled the cards.

Frente a ellos no hay un diplomático clásico ni un burócrata de modales suaves. Está Donald Trump, el artista de la distracción, el ilusionista del caos controlado. Mientras Delcy habla de soberanía y Diosdado gruñe consignas oxidadas, Trump ya cambió el escenario, apagó las luces y cobró la entrada.

Across from them there is no classic diplomat, no soft-mannered bureaucrat. There is Donald Trump, the artist of distraction, the illusionist of controlled chaos. While Delcy talks about sovereignty and Diosdado growls rusty slogans, Trump has already changed the scenery, turned off the lights, and collected the entrance fee.

Trump no amenaza: anuncia consecuencias.

Trump does not threaten: he announces consequences.

Y cuando lo hace, no necesita levantar la voz.

And when he does, he does not need to raise his voice.

Es el tahúr perfecto: un jugador experimentado, hábil, venenoso. No solo sabe jugar; lee al rival, provoca errores, distrae, fanfarronea cuando conviene y engaña con apariencias calculadas. Cuando el otro cree que va a ganar… ya perdió.

He is the perfect cardsharp: an experienced, skillful, venomous player. He does not just know how to play; he reads his opponent, provokes mistakes, distracts, bluffs when it suits him, and deceives with calculated appearances. When the other believes he is about to win… he has already lost.

Trump es el crupier que dirige el juego, reparte las cartas, controla las apuestas y marca el ritmo de la mesa. Mientras tanto, el gobierno de Estados Unidos ha lanzado advertencias públicas contra Diosdado Cabello: cooperación o consecuencias.

Trump is the dealer who runs the game, hands out the cards, controls the bets, and sets the pace at the table. Meanwhile, the United States government has issued public warnings against Diosdado Cabello: cooperation or consequences.

No se habla de premios ni de cheques para “irse tranquilo”, sino de presión directa y castigos selectivos.

There is no talk of rewards or checks to “leave peacefully,” only direct pressure and targeted punishments.

Delcy Rodríguez —que aún se presenta como estadista— corre el riesgo de convertirse en lo que más teme: una administradora provisional sin poder real, útil mientras obedece y descartable cuando estorba. En ese mundo, la protesta no es valentía: es una firma anticipada de caída en desgracia. Cada palabra fuera del guión se paga con aislamiento, sanciones quirúrgicas o el silencioso retiro del respaldo internacional.

Delcy Rodríguez —who still presents herself as a stateswoman— risks becoming what she fears most: a provisional administrator with no real power, useful while she obeys and disposable once she becomes inconvenient. In that world, protest is not bravery; it is a pre-signed warrant of disgrace. Every word outside the script is paid for with isolation, surgical sanctions, or the silent withdrawal of international backing.

Diosdado Cabello, por su parte, sigue jugando al macho alfa del barrio. Cree que intimidar funciona, que el ruido asusta, que el pasado impone respeto. Pero en la nueva geopolítica, el músculo sin respaldo es solo folclore armado. El castigo para figuras como él no suele ser épico: es burocrático, lento, preciso… y definitivo. Primero el cerco, luego el olvido, después la soledad.

Diosdado Cabello, for his part, keeps playing the neighborhood alpha male. He believes intimidation works, that noise frightens, that the past still commands respect. But in the new geopolitics, muscle without backing is nothing more than armed folklore. The punishment for figures like him is rarely epic: it is bureaucratic, slow, precise… and final. First the encirclement, then oblivion, then solitude.

Ambos cometen el mismo pecado capital: subestimar al tahúr. Creer que Trump es impulsivo cuando es calculador.

Both commit the same capital sin: underestimating the cardsharp. Believing Trump is impulsive when he is calculating.

Creer que distrae por torpeza, cuando distrae para mover fichas sin testigos.

Believing he distracts out of clumsiness, when he distracts in order to move pieces without witnesses.

Trump no quiere convencidos; quiere obedientes.

Trump does not want the convinced; he wants the obedient.

No quiere socios; quiere resultados. Cuando alguien insiste en jugar duro, simplemente cambia de mesa… Y deja al otro hablando solo.

He does not want partners; he wants results. When someone insists on playing tough, he simply changes tables… and leaves the other talking to himself.

Las consecuencias no llegarán con tanques ni discursos grandilocuentes. Llegarán con sonrisas diplomáticas, contratos cerrados sin ellos, llamadas que ya no entran y puertas que se cierran sin ruido. El verdadero castigo será ver cómo el poder se administra sin pedirles permiso.

The consequences will not arrive with tanks or grandiose speeches. They will arrive with diplomatic smiles, deals closed without them, calls that no longer come through, and doors that close without a sound. The real punishment will be watching power being exercised without anyone asking their permission.

En política, como en el póker, hay una regla básica:

In politics, as in poker, there is a basic rule:

Cuando no sabes quién es el tonto de la mesa… probablemente eres tú.

When you do not know who the fool at the table is… it is probably you.

Y Delcy y Diosdado siguen apostando, como si no hubieran notado que el crupier ya cambió de dueño.

And Delcy and Diosdado keep betting, as if they had not notice that the dealer has already changed hands.