U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan Leader Nicolas Maduro

Marianne Compere '26

During a dramatic international event on January 3, 2026, the United States carried out a major military operation in Caracas, Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. President Donald Trump made the initial call for this mission, and once it was complete, he announced that American forces were successful in removing Maduro from power and bringing him to the United States. Maduro’s capture has sparked strong reactions from around the world and could change the future of Venezuela.

According to official statements, the mission included airstrikes and a nighttime raid by U.S. military units. After the operation, Maduro and his wife were taken to New York, where they are expected to face federal charges for drug trafficking and collusion with gangs designated as terrorist organizations. As of present day, they have denied all of these charges.

President Trump said that the United States plans to run Venezuela temporarily and rebuild the country’s oil industry until peaceful negotiations can be reached. Trump also said that the U.S. may use Venezuela’s oil resources to help pay for the country’s recovery.

The capture of Maduro has provoked strong reactions from around the world. Some U.S. leaders have praised the President’s operation as a bold move against corruption and crime, while many foreign governments and international experts have criticized it as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and international law.

As Maduro is held within U.S. borders, the world waits to see how responses from the Venezuelan government and people could affect international relations within and beyond the Americas.