In an unprecedented military operation, United States special forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, spiriting him to New York to face criminal charges. Former US President Donald Trump has declared that America will now run the South American nation and has begun selecting a cabinet to oversee its affairs, signalling that US troops could be deployed on the ground.
The Dawn Raid and Capture
The dramatic seizure occurred during a lightning pre-dawn attack on Caracas. Around 2am local time on Saturday, residents were awoken by explosions and military helicopters as US air strikes pounded sites including a major military base and an airbase. According to top US military officer General Dan Caine, 150 aircraft supported troops who, leveraging months of detailed intelligence on Maduro's habits, choppered in to capture the president and his wife, Cilia.
The couple "gave up without a struggle" and there was no loss of US life, Caine stated. They were swiftly flown out of the country on a US government plane, landing at a military base before being transferred to New York City by helicopter. The White House later posted video on X showing the 63-year-old leftist leader, handcuffed and wearing sandals, being escorted through a US Drug Enforcement Administration facility. Maduro was heard saying in English, "Good night, happy new year."
Trump's Plan for Venezuela
Speaking from Mar-a-Lago, flanked by cabinet members, Trump outlined a controversial vision for Venezuela's future. He confirmed he was "designating people" from his cabinet to be in charge of the country and shockingly indicated a willingness to deploy US troops, stating Washington is "not afraid of boots on the ground."
A central pillar of his plan involves Venezuela's vast oil reserves. "We're going to have our very large United States oil companies... go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure," Trump said. "We'll be selling large amounts of oil." He suggested US involvement would be long-term, stating, "We're going to stay until such time as the proper transition can take place."
Political Turmoil and International Condemnation
The raid has thrown Venezuela into constitutional and political chaos. While US-backed opposition leader María Corina Machado declared "the hour of freedom has arrived" and called for 2024 election candidate Edmundo González Urrutia to assume the presidency, Trump was dismissive of her prospects.
Instead, he surprisingly touted working with Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, claiming she was "essentially willing to do what we think is necessary." Rodríguez, however, demanded Maduro's release and vowed to defend Venezuela. Late Saturday, Venezuela's Supreme Court ordered Rodríguez to assume presidential powers "in an acting capacity," adding to the confusion.
The international reaction has been largely critical. China "strongly condemned" the operation as a violation of international law and called for Maduro's immediate release. France warned solutions cannot "be imposed from outside," while UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern that international law rules were not respected. The UN Security Council is set to meet on Monday to discuss the crisis.
Uncertain Aftermath and Legal Questions
The immediate aftermath in Caracas was an eerie quiet, with police stationed outside public buildings and smoke lingering in the streets. Venezuelan authorities have not released casualty figures, though Trump told the New York Post that "many" Cubans in Maduro's security detail were killed.
The legality of the operation is already under scrutiny. While key Trump ally Mike Johnson, the top Republican in the House of Representatives, called it "justified," several members of Congress have questioned its basis in law. The move represents a stark escalation in a long-standing confrontation; the US and numerous European governments did not recognise Maduro's legitimacy following elections in 2018 and 2024, accusing him of stealing power. Maduro, who long accused Trump of seeking regime change for oil, now faces an uncertain future in a New York courtroom as the future of his nation hangs in the balance.
