Axios: Claude’s Venequela drama

Posted on February 15, 2026 by michelleclarke2015
Claude’s Venezuela drama
 
Man in cuffs
Nicolás Maduro arrives at a Manhattan helipad after his capture. Photo: XNY/Star Max/GC Images
 
The U.S. military used Anthropic’s Claude AI model during the operation to capture Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro. Now the blowback may threaten the company’s business with the Pentagon, sources with knowledge of the situation told Axios’s Dave Lawler and Maria Curi.

Why it matters: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has leaned into AI and said he wants to quickly integrate it into all aspects of the military’s work, in part to stay ahead of China.

The big picture: The Pentagon wants the AI giants to allow them to use their models in any scenario, so long as they comply with the law.

Anthropic, which has positioned itself as the safety-first AI leader, is currently negotiating with the Pentagon around its terms of use. The company wants to ensure its technology is not used for the mass surveillance of Americans or to operate fully autonomous weapons.

Our sources said Claude was used during the Maduro active operation, not just in preparations for it, though its precise role remains unclear.

The company is confident the military has complied in all cases with its existing usage policy, which has additional restrictions, a source familiar with the ongoing discussions told Axios.🚨 

A senior administration official told Axios last night that Anthropic questions about Claude’s use in the operation raised Pentagon concerns.“

Any company that would jeopardize the operational success of our warfighters in the field is one we need to reevaluate our partnership with going forward,” the official said.

An Anthropic spokesperson denied that the company made “any such call to the Department of War.”The spokesperson told Axios: “We cannot comment on whether Claude, or any other AI model, was used for any specific operation, classified or otherwise.”

Zoom out: Anthropic is one of several major model-makers that are working with the Pentagon

OpenAI, Google and xAI have reached deals for military users to access their models without many of the safeguards that apply to ordinary users.

Anthropic also has a partnership with Palantir, the AI firm with extensive Pentagon contracts, that allows it to use Claude within its security products. Share this story.

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About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
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