Heightened security for Starbucks CEO puts spotlight on growing safety concerns for industry executives

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Global Guardian VP of Client Risk ManagementSeth Krummrichrecently joinedBrian Kilmeadeon Fox News Radio to discuss the evolving situation in Venezuela—what may come next, the broader regional implications, and how organizations can operate amid ongoing uncertainty.

During the conversation, Seth shared how Global Guardian is supporting clients in the region, including proactive executive protection and transportation, contingency planning, and evacuation preparedness: “Before the sun came up on Saturday, our Venezuelan team already had all the evacuation routes that we needed to get any of our clients or employees or families out of Venezuela.”

As conditions continue to shift, our teams remain focused on helping clients assess risk, protect personnel, and maintain continuity—on the ground and in real time.

Venezuela: What's Next?

“You don’t want, in a fragile situation, a power vacuum. That’s where you get fighting in and amongst different groups.”

Following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Mike Ballard, Director of Intelligence at Global Guardian, spoke with Border Report Live to break down what the latest developments could mean for the region moving forward.

In the interview, Mike shares insight on how the situation is likely to evolve in the near term, potential impacts to migration flows, U.S. interests, and regional stability, and what Global Guardian is advising clients operating in or near Latin America to monitor closely. He also addresses broader implications for countries including Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico.

Click below to watch the interview, which runs from approximately minute 5:00 to minute 23:00.

What the U.S. used to capture Maduro

“Audacious, surgical and stunning — the operation single-handedly rewrote U.S.-Venezuelan policy and significantly impacted China, Russia, North Korea and Iran’s strategic calculus.”

Seth Krummrich, Vice President of Client Risk Management at Global Guardian, was recently featured in Axios discussing the U.S. operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The article explores the scale and complexity of the operation, along with the broader geopolitical implications shaping the region and beyond.

Maduro’s Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president on 05 January. While Maduro has been removed, the regime remains intact for now. The U.S. believes they have a compliant leader in Rodríguez, who will act in a provisional capacity while the U.S. manages the transition to democracy, for which a timeline has not been proposed.

During early morning hours on 03 January 2026, the U.S. military conducted strikes on strategic military targets in and around Caracas and captured President Nicholas Maduro and his wife. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Maduro is set to stand trial on criminal changes in the U.S., and that the U.S. strikes in and around Caracas were to "protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant." 

During afternoon hours local time on 14 December 2025, a father and son, 50-year-old Sajid Akram and 24-year-old Naveed Akram, carried out a mass shooting of a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, just outside Sydney. At least 16 people were killed and 40 more injured by the suspects who used legally owned firearms, including a bolt action rifle and pump shotgun. The father was shot and killed by police while the son was tackled and disarmed by a civilian.