Venezuela has been plunged into a profound constitutional crisis following an unprecedented US military operation that resulted in the capture and extradition of President Nicolás Maduro to face criminal charges in New York. The dramatic pre-dawn raid, executed by American special forces in Caracas, represents one of the most significant interventions in Latin America by the United States in decades.
According to military officials, approximately 150 aircraft participated in the coordinated operation that targeted multiple strategic locations throughout the Venezuelan capital. General Dan Caine confirmed that intelligence operatives had spent months meticulously tracking Maduro’s routines and personal habits prior to the capture. The Venezuelan leader and his wife were apprehended without resistance and transported via US government aircraft to a military facility before being transferred to New York City.
The White House released footage showing Maduro handcuffed and wearing sandals while being escorted through a Drug Enforcement Administration facility. The 63-year-old leader was heard remarking ‘Good night, happy new year’ in English during the processing.
President Trump announced that cabinet members would be designated to assume administrative control of Venezuela while indicating possible extended military deployment. ‘We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,’ Trump stated, adding that US forces would remain until ‘the proper transition can take place.’ Surprisingly, Trump expressed willingness to collaborate with Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, rather than US-backed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, whom he dismissed as lacking sufficient support.
The operation has triggered international condemnation, with China denouncing the action as a ‘clear violation of international law’ and demanding Maduro’s immediate release. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern that ‘the rules of international law have not been respected,’ while France warned that solutions cannot be ‘imposed from outside.’ The UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting to address the escalating crisis.
Venezuela’s Supreme Court has subsequently ordered Rodriguez to assume presidential powers in an acting capacity, creating competing claims to legitimate governance. The political vacuum has left the country’s future uncertain despite Trump’s promises that major US oil companies would invest billions to rehabilitate Venezuela’s energy infrastructure.