US Military Operation Ousts Maduro in Venezuela, Trump Pledges Strong Involvement in Oil Industry
On January 3, 2026, a pre-dawn US military operation ousted Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from power in Venezuela. The raid targeted Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. Maduro and Flores were captured and transported by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima before being taken to New York. The operation had been planned for several days but experienced weather-related delays. Some US forces sustained injuries, though former President Donald Trump claimed there were no fatalities.
Maduro, a former bus driver who rose to power under Hugo Chávez, was indicted by the United States in 2020 on narco-terrorism charges, which he denies. Prior to the operation, the US had pursued a blockade of Venezuelan oil, expanded sanctions, and conducted vessel strikes. Trump described the military action as paving the way for liberty for the Venezuelan people and stated that US oil companies would be heavily involved in Venezuela's oil industry moving forward.
The international reaction was mixed: Russia, Cuba, and Iran condemned the operation; Argentina welcomed the move; Mexico expressed condemnation; and Brazil's President Lula stated that the action crossed an unacceptable line. This incident marks the first direct US military intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama to depose Manuel Noriega. The operation involved elite US forces, including Delta Force. Domestically, political responses were divided, with Republicans praising the operation and Democrats criticizing it for bypassing Congress.
