US Strikes on Venezuela Result in Capture of President Maduro Amidst Rising Tensions and Controversy
On January 3, 2026, the United States carried out a large-scale strike on Venezuela, targeting key locations including Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. Explosions were reported, with smoke seen at a military base hangar, as the strikes lasted approximately 30 minutes. Elite US special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, reportedly handed over by Maduro's own security forces under pressure from the US. Maduro was flown by helicopter to a US warship, the USS Iwo Jima, where an image showed him blindfolded aboard. President Donald Trump announced Maduro's capture, mentioning some US injuries but no deaths, and indicated the possibility of a second wave of strikes if necessary. Trump also stated that US oil firms would enter Venezuela to repair infrastructure and support a transition in governance.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Maduro and Flores were indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons offenses, and would face trial in the United States. The operation followed months of rising tensions, including a buildup of US naval forces in the Caribbean. The US accused Maduro of heading a drug cartel and framed the intervention as a step toward ousting him, amid claims that Venezuela serves as a transit country for cocaine to Europe and the US. However, no direct evidence has been released regarding narco-terrorists killed during the strikes. Maduro and his allies have denied involvement in drug trafficking and condemned the US strikes as illegal aggression, calling the US action imperialist and an attempt to seize Venezuela's vast oil and mineral resources.
The Venezuelan government declared a national emergency to protect state institutions and vowed to defend sovereignty against what it termed armed transition attempts. Vice President Delcy Rodriguez asserted Venezuela would never become a colony and demanded the release of Maduro and his wife. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer clarified that the UK was not involved in the strikes, expressed support for a peaceful transition of power, and emphasized ongoing discussions with US officials to ascertain the facts.
Maduro's rule in Venezuela was marked by severe economic decline, repression, and widespread unrest. Since losing parliamentary majority in 2015, his government relied heavily on secret police, disappearances, and persecution to maintain power. Protests in 2017 resulted in over 100 deaths, with thousands more killed by security forces or in detention. A significant portion of Venezuela's population fled the country amid collapsing institutions and kleptocratic governance that fostered vast economic inequality.
The US strategy represents a more coercive, interventionist approach in Latin America, reviving themes reminiscent of the Monroe Doctrine aimed at curbing Chinese influence in the region. Maduro's disputed reelection in 2024, amid allegations of fraud, further escalated tensions. The public mood in Venezuelan cities like Caracas is described as tense and confused, with some residents showing cautious optimism following Maduro’s removal. Neighboring nations are expected to privately welcome the end of Maduro's regime but remain concerned about the broader implications for international law and the established world order.
Legal experts and international observers note that the US removal of Maduro is unprecedented and seemingly contradicts conventional international-law principles. The US must justify its actions to avoid setting a dangerous precedent and clarify the processes for holding Maduro accountable in a manner consistent with international norms. This complex episode underscores both the geopolitical struggle over Venezuela’s strategic resources and the humanitarian crisis stemming from years of misrule and foreign intervention.
