A palpable, uneasy quiet descended upon the Venezuelan capital of Caracas on Sunday, 4 January 2026, following the dramatic capture and removal of the nation's president by American armed forces.
The Operation to Extract Maduro
President Nicolás Maduro was deposed and taken into custody during a targeted U.S. military mission on Saturday, 3 January. The operation successfully extracted both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their residence located within a military base in the heart of Caracas. Following his capture, the deposed leader was swiftly transported to the United States.
Arrival on American Soil
The high-profile transfer concluded late on Saturday afternoon when the aircraft carrying Maduro touched down at a small airport in New York. This bold move marks a significant escalation in the long-standing and fraught relations between Washington and the Venezuelan government.
Immediate Aftermath in Venezuela
Back in Venezuela, the immediate consequence was a state of suspended animation across the country. Reports from the ground described a tense calm holding in Caracas and beyond, as the population and remaining authorities grappled with the sudden power vacuum and the unprecedented foreign intervention on their soil. The full political and social repercussions of this event are yet to unfold.
The situation remains fluid, with the international community watching closely for developments from both Venezuela and the United States regarding the legal and political future of the captured president and the fate of his nation.
