In a stunning escalation of years-long U.S.–Venezuela tensions, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were reportedly captured by U.S. forces early on January 3, 2026, following a large-scale U.S. military operation that included airstrikes and elite ground missions in and around Caracas, the Venezuelan capital. U.S. President **Donald Trump announced via social media that Maduro and Flores had been taken into custody and flown out of the country to face justice, marking one of the most dramatic interventions in Latin America in decades.
Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013, rose from humble beginnings as a bus driver and trade unionist to become Hugo Chávez’s chosen successor, later consolidating power amid political unrest, economic collapse, and allegations of repression. Over the years, his government has been accused of dismantling democratic institutions, suppressing opposition, and overseeing an economic crisis that drove millions of Venezuelans to flee abroad. These issues drew sharp international criticism and increasingly strained relations with the United States.
The U.S. government’s focus on Maduro intensified sharply after a 2020 indictment in a U.S. court charging him and his inner circle with narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and related offenses. Washington alleged that Maduro was involved in directing the so-called “Cartel de los Soles,” a criminal network accused of shipping vast quantities of cocaine into the United States and collaborating with armed groups. Over time, the U.S. dramatically increased pressure — including sanctions, designation of Venezuelan criminal groups as “foreign terrorist organisations,” and a growing military presence near Venezuelan waters. The U.S. also repeatedly offered rewards for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, doubling the bounty to $50 million in 2025.
The operation on January 3 was described by U.S. officials as a precision mission involving airstrikes and special forces, including the U.S. Army’s Delta Force, tasked with detaining Maduro at his residence inside Venezuela’s largest military base. Explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported across multiple parts of Caracas in the early morning hours, followed by Trump’s confirmation that Maduro had been captured and transported out of the country to face criminal charges in the United States. Venezuelan authorities, however, initially offered conflicting information about his whereabouts, with officials like Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanding “proof of life” and saying they did not know where he was being held.
Inside Venezuela, reactions were immediate and tense. Maduro’s government denounced the strike as an “imperialist attack” that violated the nation’s sovereignty and called on citizens and military supporters to mobilise against what it described as a foreign invasion. A national state of emergency was declared, giving Maduro’s government powers to expand military control and restrict civil liberties. Pro-government crowds and supporters took to the streets in some areas, while many ordinary Venezuelans grappled with fear, uncertainty, and rapidly unfolding news.
The international reaction to the U.S. action was sharply divided. Several Latin American governments, including Brazil and Cuba, condemned the intervention as a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability, urging immediate diplomatic responses through the United Nations Security Council. Some global powers like Russia and Iran echoed these condemnations, framing the mission as dangerous and destabilising. Meanwhile, in the United States and parts of Europe, political responses ranged from support for removing a leader accused of criminality to serious concerns about legality, the precedent it sets for state sovereignty, and the potential for wider conflict. Leaders in the United Kingdom emphasised that their country was not involved militarily but stressed the importance of respecting international norms.
The episode has thrown into sharp relief the longstanding geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. Critics argue that the United States crossed a red line by using military force to remove a sitting head of state without broad international backing or clear United Nations authorisation. Supporters of the operation counter that Maduro’s alleged criminal activities and repressive governance justified decisive action and that bringing him to trial in the U.S. could serve justice for crimes that span continents. Analysts also note that control over Venezuela’s vast oil and mineral reserves — some of the largest in the world — has been an underlying factor in the rivalry, adding economic and strategic dimensions to the conflict.
At this moment, key questions remain unanswered: exactly where Maduro and his wife are being held, the precise legal framework for their prosecution, and how Venezuelan governance will function in the aftermath of his removal. The move has already reshaped diplomatic relations and could have lasting impacts on regional security, global norms regarding sovereignty and intervention, and the future of Venezuela itself. This unprecedented moment marks both the culmination of years of deteriorating U.S.–Venezuela relations and the potential beginning of a new and uncertain chapter in the country’s history.
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