A dramatic shift in Venezuela’s political landscape has unfolded following a decisive US military operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, set to be formally sworn in on Monday, has extended an unexpected olive branch to the Trump administration, proposing a collaborative agenda focused on “shared development within the framework of international law.” This conciliatory approach, communicated via social media platform X, stands in stark contrast to her earlier accusations that the operation possessed “Zionist undertones.
The capture itself was executed with formidable force. US special forces extracted Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from Caracas in a pre-dawn raid on Saturday, supported by American fighter jets that targeted key military installations across the country. President Trump issued a stark warning to Rodriguez, stating she would “pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro” if she fails to align with US interests. He defended the intervention as a necessary regime change, asserting the US would oversee Venezuela until a “safe and proper and judicious transition” is achievable, with US oil companies poised to capitalize on the nation’s vast crude reserves—the largest in the world.
The aftermath has been bloody. Reports from Havana confirm 32 Cuban citizens, identified as military and intelligence personnel, were killed during the operation, prompting two days of national mourning in Cuba. The New York Times estimates the total death toll, including civilians, to be at least 80. Maduro and Flores now face drug trafficking charges and are scheduled for a US court appearance, where Maduro is expected to contest his arrest based on head-of-state immunity.
Trump’s rhetoric further inflamed regional tensions. He targeted Colombian President Gustavo Petro with unsubstantiated allegations, calling him “a sick man who likes making cocaine,” and ambiguously suggested similar military action in Colombia “sounds good.” Petro vehemently refuted the claims and called for public mobilization across Latin America. While several Western nations welcomed Maduro’s removal, a coalition including Spain, Brazil, and Mexico condemned the US actions as an “extremely dangerous precedent” that violates international law and jeopardizes regional security.