US Military Apprehends Venezuelan President Maduro in Caracas; Faces Charges in New York
The US military operation, dubbed "Absolute Resolve," saw Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, apprehended in Caracas and transported to New York to face terrorism and drug-related charges. The event has prompted diverse international reactions, with many nations condemning the US action as a violation of international law, while others expressed support or satisfaction with Maduro's removal. This development also highlights the ongoing geopolitical competition in Latin America, particularly regarding China's expanding influence and Venezuela's vast oil reserves.
Apprehension of President Maduro
On a Saturday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were apprehended by US Army Delta Force commandos at their residence in Caracas. The operation, named "Absolute Resolve," commenced shortly before 11 PM local time on Friday, following months of planning that included tracking Mr. Maduro's movements and rehearsing entry into a replica of his fortified residence. A small CIA team had reportedly been on the ground since August, providing intelligence.
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reported that over 150 aircraft, including F-35, F-22 fighter jets, and B-1 bombers, were launched from 20 bases across the Western Hemisphere for the hours-long raid. Several military locations in Caracas, including Fuerte Tiuna, were targeted. US troops reached Mr. Maduro's safe house around 2 AM, where he and his wife reportedly surrendered. By 3:20 AM, US helicopters were transporting the apprehended individuals. Venezuelan authorities reported casualties among soldiers, civilians, and Mr. Maduro's security team, though specific figures were not provided. The Cuban government stated 32 of its officers were killed during the operation.
Mr. Maduro and his wife were subsequently transported to New York to face charges related to terrorism and drugs, where the US had previously offered a $US50 million bounty for him. This bounty was issued alleging Venezuela engaged in state-sponsored drug trafficking and supported groups like the Cartel of the Suns.
"I am a decent man, the president of my country," stated Mr. Maduro as he entered a plea of not guilty in a New York court.
US Justification and Claims
The United States justified its action by characterizing the Venezuelan government under Mr. Maduro as a "narco-terrorist" regime and a "corrupt and illegitimate dictatorship."
The US does not recognize Mr. Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, as Venezuela's legitimate president, citing the 2024 election as widely condemned by international observers and the opposition.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated a goal of the intervention was to limit investment from nations identified as US adversaries, including China, in Venezuela's oil sector.
"This is the Western Hemisphere. This is where we live — and we're not going to allow the Western Hemisphere to be a base of operation for adversaries, competitors, and rivals of the United States," Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly declared.
Former US President Donald Trump claimed that Venezuela had "unilaterally seized and stole American oil, American assets and American platforms." However, Venezuelan economist Francisco Rodríguez disputed this, clarifying that under Venezuelan law, the state maintains ownership of its underground oil reserves. Venezuela nationalized foreign-owned oil operations in 1976 and renegotiated contracts in 2007, resulting in compensation payments to affected US companies, some of which ceased following US sanctions.
Political Developments in Venezuela
Following Mr. Maduro's apprehension, Delcy Rodríguez, his vice-president, was formally sworn in as Venezuela's interim president, supported by senior officials and the military.
Venezuela's high court cited a constitutional provision classifying Mr. Maduro's absence as "temporary," allowing Ms. Rodríguez to hold power for up to six months without an election.
The Trump administration has presented demands to Ms. Rodríguez, reportedly including restricting drug flow, removing foreign operatives deemed hostile to the US, and halting oil sales to US adversaries. Venezuela's constitution mandates an election within 30 days if a president becomes "permanently unavailable."
The political landscape remains divided. Opposition figure María Corina Machado, previously prohibited from participating in elections, continues to be a prominent leader and endorsed former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia for the 2024 election, which the opposition claimed he won. Analysts have noted that Mr. Maduro's removal has contributed to further division among Venezuelans and introduced uncertainty regarding a democratic transition. Prior to his removal, Mr. Maduro had mobilized over 200,000 national military personnel and encouraged the Bolivarian Militia, a civilian army, to prepare for potential foreign attacks, raising concerns about internal security and the risk of violence.
International Reactions and Legal Scrutiny
The US military operation generated varied international responses, with many nations condemning it while others expressed support.
International Condemnation
Beijing officially denounced the apprehension of Mr. Maduro, describing Washington's actions as "hegemonic," a "resource-grabbing power play," and an "invasion."
Beijing described Washington's actions as "hegemonic," a "resource-grabbing power play," and an "invasion" that constituted "colonial pillaging" and "imperialist expansion."
China called for the immediate release of Mr. Maduro and his wife, with Chinese state media emphasizing that the world was witnessing a "plunder-based order driven by US interests" rather than a "rules-based international order." Russia's Security Council criticized the actions as unlawful and destabilizing. Spain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay issued a joint statement rejecting "unilateral military operations in Venezuela," affirming Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace and expressing concern over external control of resources. Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia expressed "grave concern." The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet for discussions.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated the US military's capture of Mr. Maduro set a "dangerous precedent."
UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter Terrorism, Ben Saul, characterized the US justification as "complete nonsense," arguing the operation was a "high-intensity military operation" and a "squarely prohibited use of force under the United Nations charter." France's foreign minister stated the capture violated "the principle of not resorting to force."
Statements of Support
In contrast, Argentina's President Javier Milei celebrated the outcome, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated President Trump. Some European states generally called for international law to be respected or expressed satisfaction with Mr. Maduro's removal. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated he was "not sad" that Mr. Maduro was no longer president, as the UK had long considered him an "illegitimate president." Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni deemed the US operation legitimate as a "defensive intervention."
US Defense of Action
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the strikes as a law enforcement operation, not an invasion, a justification cited to avoid notifying the US Congress in advance.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz stated that Venezuela was "coordinating with the likes of China, Russia, Iran, terrorist groups like Hezbollah" and "pumping drugs, thugs, and weapons into the United States of America."
Venezuela's Oil Reserves and Economic Future
Venezuela possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, estimated at 303.2 billion barrels, but its daily production is less than a third of its output a decade prior. Its daily oil production in November was approximately 860,000 to 1 million barrels per day.
Following Mr. Maduro's capture, President Trump stated the US would extract "a tremendous amount of wealth out of the ground" in Venezuela, with "very large US oil companies" investing billions to repair and improve infrastructure, generating revenue for the country. He had indicated the US would temporarily "run" Venezuela, though Secretary Rubio later suggested the US would not take a day-to-day governing role. Estimates suggest that restoring Venezuela's oil sector to previous production levels could require approximately US$100 billion in investment over more than a decade.
To safeguard Venezuelan oil revenue, President Trump signed an executive order aiming to prevent its seizure by creditors. The first sales of Venezuelan crude following the US embargo generated approximately $US500 million, with proceeds deposited into a US Treasury bank account in Qatar. The US administration has indicated that Venezuela's substantial international creditors, including China (owed an estimated $US10 billion to $US12 billion) and companies with court judgments like Chevron and Exxon Mobil (owed $US14 billion), will not access these petrodollars.
China's Influence in Latin America and Geopolitical Competition
China's economic and political engagement in Latin America has expanded significantly over the past two decades, becoming the largest trading partner for several key nations. This expansion includes the establishment or operation of multiple port facilities across the region and a space-tracking station in Bolivia. Chinese telecommunications company Huawei operates in most Latin American countries. Security cooperation has also increased, with several nations, including Venezuela, acquiring Chinese military equipment.
Sino-Venezuelan Partnership
China currently holds the position of Venezuela's primary oil customer, forming an "all-weather, all-conditions strategic partnership" based on oil-for-loans agreements. This involves substantial oil-for-loans agreements totaling tens of billions of dollars for energy and infrastructure projects, particularly after US sanctions in 2019. Despite this, Venezuelan oil represents approximately 4 percent of China's total oil imports.
US Counter-Influence
The United States has consistently criticized China's growing influence in the region, with US diplomatic efforts coinciding with some Latin American countries adjusting economic ties with China; for example, Panama formally withdrew from China's Belt and Road Initiative following a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. China's Foreign Ministry criticized reports suggesting the Trump administration directed acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez to sever ties with nations like China, Cuba, Russia, and Iran, describing these directives as coercive.
Analysts have suggested that the US action is a setback for Beijing’s strategic influence in the region, though China may seek to leverage its existing investments in critical infrastructure. While China's response has primarily been limited to verbal condemnation, some analysts believe the timing of the operation against Mr. Maduro might have been a deliberate act of intimidation by the US to deter countries from strengthening ties with China.
Broader Geopolitical Implications
The US action in Venezuela has prompted discussions about broader geopolitical implications, including parallels drawn on Chinese social media to a potential Chinese military operation concerning Taiwan.
Taiwan Precedent Debated
A lawmaker from Taiwan’s ruling party rejected direct comparisons, stating that "China is not the US, and Taiwan is not Venezuela," and that China currently lacks feasible means for such an action against Taiwan. Analysts also indicated that the US action is unlikely to have a direct impact on China's calculations regarding a potential invasion of Taiwan, with Beijing's timeline influenced by domestic economic situations, military capabilities, Taiwan’s political landscape, and US policy.
Connections to Other US Actions
The event has also been linked to other recent US actions. The US recently undertook operations against Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which Russia and China condemned as attempts at regime change. China expressed friendship with Iran but maintained a pragmatic stance, prioritizing stable relations with the US and avoiding direct military involvement in conflicts, consistent with its non-interference foreign policy. Russia and Iran signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in January 2025, covering various sectors, but it does not include a mutual defense clause.
Historical Context and Future Precedents
US President Trump also discussed potential military action against Colombia, referring to its president as a "sick man" involved in cocaine production, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted at targeting Cuba, an ally of Venezuela, due to its alleged role in guarding Mr. Maduro. These statements have drawn comparisons to historical US interventions in Latin America, which include involvement in at least seven coups d'état between the 1960s and late 1980s.
Some analysts suggested that such US military actions could set a precedent for other major powers to assert influence in their respective regions.
Humanitarian Situation in Venezuela
Since 2014, approximately 8 million Venezuelans have departed the country, constituting one of the largest population movements in Latin American history.
A United Nations fact-finding mission reported that during this period, Venezuela's Bolivarian National Guard committed human rights violations and crimes against humanity, including arbitrary detentions, sexual violence, and torture.
Analysts do not anticipate a significant return of Venezuelans currently living abroad due to ongoing functional challenges within the country.
Australia's Smartraveller website advises citizens to avoid travel to Venezuela due to a "dangerous security situation, the threat of violent crime, political and economic instability and risk of arbitrary detention."