In a dramatic escalation of long-standing tensions, former US President Donald Trump has announced that a military operation led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, with the US now poised to take a central role in the nation's oil industry.
The Dawn Raid and Capture
The operation unfolded in the early hours of Saturday, 3 January 2026. Explosions and aircraft were reported over Caracas for approximately 90 minutes, with further attacks in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira. According to Trump, speaking in a phone interview with Fox News, elite US special forces including the Army's Delta Force conducted a "surgical" and "powerful" assault.
Nicolás Maduro, the 63-year-old successor to Hugo Chávez, and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured at a fortified residence. "He was trying to get into it, but he got bumrushed so fast that he didn’t," Trump recounted. The couple were subsequently flown by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship in the Caribbean, en route to face charges in New York.
Trump's Vision for Venezuelan Oil
When questioned on the future of Venezuela's oil reserves, the largest proven in the world, Trump was unequivocal. "We’re gonna be very strongly involved in it," he stated. "We have the greatest oil companies in the world ... and we’re going to be very much involved in it."
This declaration aligns with long-standing accusations from Maduro that the US sought to control Venezuela's natural resources. The operation followed increased US pressure, including a proposed oil blockade, expanded sanctions, and strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels.
International Reaction and Fallout
The military intervention, described as the most direct in the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama, sparked immediate and divided global responses. Allies of Venezuela, including Russia, Cuba, and Iran, condemned the action as a violation of sovereignty. Iran urged the UN Security Council to act.
Within the Americas, Argentina's President Javier Milei welcomed Venezuela's new "freedom," while Mexico and Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticised the move, the latter saying it crossed "an unacceptable line."
Domestically in the US, the action drew stark partisan lines. Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the "decisive" operation. Conversely, Democratic lawmakers, such as Senator Mark Warner, warned of dangerous precedents, questioning what would stop nations like China or Russia from claiming similar authority to abduct foreign leaders.
The future political landscape of Venezuela remains uncertain. It is unclear whether the US will accept other senior figures from the ruling party, such as Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez, assuming power or seek their removal. Trump indicated decisions were being made, stating, "We can’t take a chance on letting somebody else run it and just take over where he left off."
In Lima, Peru, crowds of Venezuelan expatriates celebrated the news of Maduro's capture, a scene captured by photographer Martín Mejía. Maduro, indicted in US federal court in 2020 on narco-terrorism charges he denies, is now set to face American justice, with US Attorney General Pam Bondi promising the "full wrath" of the courts.
