U.S. Military Operation in Caracas Leads to Capture of Venezuelan President Maduro

U.S. military forces conducted an operation in Caracas early Saturday, resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The U.S. stated that the pair were being transported to New York to face criminal charges related to alleged international drug trafficking. The action has prompted varied international responses, with some nations condemning it as a violation of sovereignty and international law, while others have expressed support or called for a peaceful transition.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would temporarily oversee Venezuela's administration and utilize its oil reserves.

Operational Details and Capture

The U.S. military operation, described by President Trump as a "large-scale strike," commenced early Saturday in Caracas. Explosions were reported around 2 a.m. local time (1 a.m. ET) in Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. A journalist in Caracas described hearing two explosions at La Carlota military airbase, followed by similar detonations and low-flying planes for approximately an hour.

The Venezuelan government confirmed that military targets were hit and reported civilian and military casualties, though specific figures were not provided. U.S. forces reported some injuries but no fatalities or equipment loss. President Maduro and Ms. Flores were reportedly apprehended at their residence while Maduro attempted to reach a safe room.

The operation involved a joint force of over 150 aircraft and special operations teams. President Trump stated that a second wave of troops was prepared but ultimately not required; he later announced the cancellation of further attacks, citing Venezuelan cooperation.

Transfer and Legal Proceedings

Following their capture, Mr. Maduro and Ms. Flores were transported by helicopters to the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship in the Caribbean, then flown to the Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base in Cuba. They were subsequently transferred by plane to New York state and by helicopter to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York City.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Mr. Maduro and Ms. Flores had been indicted in the Southern District of New York.

The charges include conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, import cocaine, and possession of and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the U.S. An unsealed indictment alleged that since 1999, Mr. Maduro and others collaborated with international drug trafficking organizations to transport thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States. Mr. Maduro has consistently denied these accusations, alleging that the U.S. seeks to remove him from power to access Venezuela's oil reserves.

U.S. Stated Plans for Venezuela

President Trump stated that the U.S. would temporarily oversee Venezuela "until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition." He indicated that the U.S. planned to utilize "very large U.S. oil companies" to rebuild Venezuela's oil infrastructure and generate revenue, with the Venezuelan people cited as primary beneficiaries.

Venezuela possesses an estimated 303 billion barrels of crude oil, representing approximately 20% of global oil resources.

President Trump also stated that the U.S. would seek reimbursement from the country's oil reserves and claimed a U.S. occupation "won't cost us a penny."

He identified drugs and oil as primary reasons for the U.S. intervention, describing it as "regime change, anything you want to call it." The U.S. subsequently announced it had seized oil from Venezuelan tankers, with U.S. refineries processing the crude.

President Trump initially announced that Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was "sworn in" as president, later warning her that if she did not "do what's right," she would "pay a very big price." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the U.S. action as "not a war" against Venezuela, but rather a conflict against "drug trafficking organizations," stating that further attacks could occur but were hoped to be unnecessary. He affirmed that attacks on drug boats would continue to stop drug flow.

Venezuelan and Opposition Responses

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, whose current location was initially unknown, stated that Mr. Maduro remained her country's only president and that Venezuela was prepared to defend its natural resources. The Venezuelan Supreme Court subsequently ordered Ms. Rodríguez to assume the role of acting interim President.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López confirmed the army had temporarily relinquished control to Ms. Rodríguez but later demanded the immediate return of President Maduro and the First Lady, calling the U.S. action an "act of aggression" and rejecting "colonialist ideas."

Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged citizens to remain calm.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, called for Edmundo Gonzalez, widely regarded as the legitimate winner of the 2024 Venezuelan elections, to assume the presidency. Mr. Gonzalez is currently living in exile in Spain. President Trump commented that Ms. Machado lacked sufficient support within Venezuela to become its leader, though he later indicated plans to meet her.

Venezuelan migrants worldwide expressed varied reactions. Many celebrated the perceived end of Mr. Maduro's government, expressing happiness and hope for a return to Venezuela. Conversely, some supporters of Mr. Maduro protested, labeling the action as U.S. interventionism.

International Reactions

Reactions to the U.S. actions varied internationally, with Venezuela requesting an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern regarding the observance of international law.

Several nations at the Security Council meeting, including U.S. allies France and Denmark, condemned the U.S. military operation as a violation of international law and the U.N. Charter, advocating for peaceful dispute resolution. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz defended the capture as a law-enforcement operation targeting an illegitimate leader involved in drug trafficking and terrorism.

Latin America:

• Colombia: President Gustavo Petro condemned the action, describing it as an aggression against Venezuela and Latin America, and deployed security forces to the border anticipating refugee flows.
• Brazil: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned the actions, stating they "crossed an unacceptable line" and established a "dangerous precedent."
• Mexico: Condemned the strikes as a violation of the U.N. Charter.
• Cuba: President Miguel Díaz-Canel described the U.S. action as "state terrorism" and a "criminal attack."
• Argentina: President Javier Milei publicly supported the operation and "advancement of freedom."

Other Major Powers:

• Russia: Condemned the strikes, expressing solidarity with the Venezuelan populace and characterizing the U.S. action as "international banditry."
• China: Expressed strong opposition and shock regarding the use of force against a sovereign country and its president, characterizing it as "unilateral, illegal and bullying acts."

European Union & United Kingdom:

• European Union: Reiterated its position that Mr. Maduro lacked legitimacy but urged restraint and adherence to international law.
• United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated the UK was not involved and emphasized support for upholding international law, while his government indicated it would not regret the conclusion of Maduro's regime.

U.S. Domestic Political Response

U.S. Congressional Democrats questioned the legality of the military action, citing the lack of prior Congressional authorization as constitutionally required. Leaders such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the Trump administration for not seeking congressional approval for the use of military force, with some characterizing the operation as an "act of war." Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, expressed support.

Protests against U.S. intervention were held in cities like Houston, with participants displaying signs such as "No blood for oil" and "Hands off Venezuela."

Broader Context and Subsequent Developments

The U.S. military action marks the most substantial U.S. intervention in the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama and the first direct U.S. military operation against a South American nation.

International relations experts noted that this action signals a major shift in U.S. foreign and defense policy, aligning with a new national security strategy advocating for an expansion of the U.S. military presence in the region, referred to as a "Trump corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine.

President Trump later stated he canceled a second wave of attacks on Venezuela, citing Venezuela's cooperation with the U.S. on oil infrastructure and the release of political prisoners. Venezuela announced the release of an "important number" of detainees; human rights organizations confirmed approximately a dozen releases, while an estimated 800 to 1,000 political prisoners remained. Among those released were former opposition candidate Enrique Márquez and five Spanish nationals. Trump also stated the U.S. Navy armada would remain in the Caribbean for "safety and security purposes" and indicated that the U.S. would begin "hitting land with regard to the cartels," specifically mentioning Mexico.