In a dramatic escalation of tensions, former US President Donald Trump has publicly praised what he described as a 'brilliant' military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Operation Details and Trump's Claims
Speaking to The New York Times in the early hours of Saturday morning at 4:30am ET, Trump lauded the mission. 'A lot of good planning and a lot of great, great troops and great people,' he stated, adding, 'It was a brilliant operation, actually.'
The operation itself reportedly unfolded in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, at around 2am local time on Saturday. Explosions and billowing flames were reported across the city as the strike took place. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized during the action.
When questioned by the newspaper on whether he had sought authorisation from Congress prior to the strike, Trump's response was non-committal: 'We'll discuss that.' He indicated further details would be provided at a press conference scheduled for 11:30 ET from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.
Venezuela Demands Proof of Life
The sudden capture has triggered a profound crisis within the Venezuelan government. The nation's Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, has issued a stark public demand for 'proof of life' for both President Maduro and his wife.
This urgent request strongly suggests that senior Venezuelan officials fear the pair may have been killed or seriously injured during the US-led operation. The situation has plunged the South American country into a state of severe political uncertainty.
Charges and Political Fallout
According to Trump, the intention is to fly Maduro to the United States to stand trial on serious criminal charges. The former president accuses Maduro and his socialist government of conspiring to 'flood the United States with illegal drugs,' levelling allegations of 'narco-terrorism'.
Maduro, who leads the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and was first elected in 2013, has long been a contentious figure on the world stage. Critics globally have branded him a corrupt authoritarian who has overseen the economic collapse of the once-prosperous, oil-rich nation, accused of rigging elections and brutally crushing political dissent.
This unprecedented military intervention marks a seismic shift in US-Venezuela relations and is likely to have significant geopolitical repercussions across the Americas and beyond.
