Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a New York jail following his audacious overnight capture by US forces in Caracas. The operation, ordered by President Donald Trump, marks an unprecedented escalation in US foreign policy, with Trump declaring that the United States will now temporarily “run” the South American nation and assume control of its vast oil reserves. (Sources)
Specifically, the deposed 63-year-old leader, along with his wife, was transferred to a detention center in Manhattan on Sunday. In addition, he faces severe criminal charges related to “narco-terrorism,” with the Trump administration alleging his government conspired to traffic narcotics into the US to “destroy American lives.”(Sources)
The Charges: “Narco-Terrorism” Conspiracy
To initiate legal proceedings, federal prosecutors indicted Maduro in New York federal court alongside his wife, his son, and three other associates. In detail, the indictment lists four primary counts:
- Narco-terrorism conspiracy
- Cocaine importation conspiracy
- Possession of machine guns and destructive devices
- Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices
He is expected to make his initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on Monday.
Trump: US Will “Run” Venezuela
In a statement announcing the capture, President Trump outlined a controversial plan for Venezuela’s immediate future. “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said.
He explicitly mentioned tapping Venezuela’s oil reserves—the largest in the world—for sale to other nations. Trump boasted that the “extremely successful operation should serve as a warning to anyone who would threaten American sovereignty or endanger American lives.”(Sources)
Operation Absolute Resolve: How It Happened
According to reports, the extraction, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, occurred at approximately 2:00 AM local time on Saturday. During the mission, elite US Delta Force operators, supported by FBI and CIA assets, breached the Fort Tiuna military complex in Caracas, Maduro’s primary residence.
The operation was not without collateral damage. Reports indicate US forces bombed areas of Caracas, damaging critical infrastructure including the power grid. A New York Times report estimates at least 40 people were killed during the assault.(Sources)
Caracas Responds: New Acting President
In the power vacuum left by the raid, Venezuela’s Supreme Court moved quickly to maintain order. The court appointed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as acting president to “guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defence of the Nation.”(Sources)
The Venezuelan government condemned the attack as “grave aggression,” accusing Washington of a predatory resource grab targeting the country’s oil and mineral wealth.
Global Reaction: A Divided World
The international community has reacted with sharp division:
- Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado: The Nobel Peace Prize winner hailed the “hour of freedom,” stating that Maduro would finally face justice for his “heinous crimes.”
- UK: Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated Britain would “shed no tears over the end of his regime.”
- Russia & China: Both nations condemned the move. Beijing “firmly opposes such hegemonic behaviour,” calling it a serious violation of international law.
- Cuba: Described the operation as “state terrorism.”
- India: Expressed “deep concern,” calling for peaceful dialogue and stability in the region.
- The Vatican: Pope Leo urged respect for sovereignty and human rights, stressing that “the good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail.”
Decades of Tension
This military intervention is the culmination of decades of friction that began in 1999 with Hugo Chavez’s ‘Bolivarian Revolution.’ The relationship deteriorated through nationalization of US oil assets, anti-US alliances with Russia and Iran, and years of “maximum pressure” sanctions. By placing a 2020 bounty on Maduro and now executing a direct military extraction, the US has shifted from economic isolation to direct intervention.