US Used Anthropic's Claude AI In Operation To Capture Venezuela's Maduro: Report

Last Updated:February 14, 2026, 22:11 IST

Anthropic’s AI model Claude was used by US defence forces in the January raid to capture Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, WSJ reported.

The US defence forces used artificial intelligence developed by Anthropic during its operation to capture then-Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. Anthropic was the first AI model developer to be used in the Pentagon for classified operations.

As per the report, published Friday and citing people familiar with the matter, Anthropic’s AI model Claude was deployed during the January raid in Caracas that led to Maduro’s capture and transfer to New York to face drug-trafficking charges. Maduro and his wife were captured from Caracas after several sites were bombed by US defence forces.

According to the WSJ report, Claude was made available to the Pentagon through Anthropic’s partnership with Palantir Technologies, whose platforms are widely used by the Defense Department and federal law enforcement agencies.

The exact role Claude played in the operation remained classified. However, it is speculated that the AI system may have been used to analyse intelligence, synthesise large volumes of data, interpret satellite imagery, or provide real-time decision-making support during the raid.

Anthropic’s usage policies prohibit using Claude to support violence, design weapons, or conduct surveillance. Despite this, the AI tool was reportedly used during the operation.

In a statement, an Anthropic spokesperson said, “Any use of Claude—whether in the private sector or across government—is required to comply with our Usage Policies, which govern how Claude can be deployed. We work closely with our partners to ensure compliance."

The report said that the concerns over how Claude was used prompted discussions within the Pentagon about potentially canceling a $200 million contract signed with Anthropic last summer.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly said in January that the Pentagon would not work with AI models that “won’t allow you to fight wars," referring to discussions with Anthropic.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has previously called for stronger regulation of artificial intelligence and expressed concern about AI being used in autonomous lethal operations and domestic surveillance.

According to Reuters, the Pentagon has been urging leading AI companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, to make their tools available on classified networks with fewer user restrictions. While many AI companies provide custom systems to the military, most operate only on unclassified administrative networks.

Anthropic is currently the only major AI model provider reportedly available in classified settings through third-party integrations, though the government remains bound by its usage guidelines.

(With inputs from agencies)

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