标签： South America

Venezuela experienced a seismic shift in its political landscape as US military forces executed a dramatic intervention in Caracas, culminating in the capture and extradition of President Nicolás Maduro. The operation, authorized by President Donald Trump, represents the most significant direct military action in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama.

In the pre-dawn hours, residents of Venezuela’s capital were jolted awake by thunderous explosions as US strikes targeted key military installations, including Fuerte Tiuna, one of the nation’s largest military bases. The coordinated attacks disabled critical defense infrastructure before special operations units moved to apprehend Maduro, who now faces serious weapons and drug trafficking charges in US jurisdiction.

This intervention follows months of escalating US military presence in the region, comprising warplanes, thousands of troops, helicopters, and the world’s largest warship. The Trump administration has consistently characterized Maduro’s government as a criminal trafficking organization, designating the ‘Cartel de los Soles’ – a network of Venezuelan elites allegedly orchestrating illegal activities – as a foreign terrorist group.

The operation validates long-standing assertions by Caracas that Washington ultimately sought regime change, particularly after the US refused to recognize Maduro’s victory in the widely criticized 2024 elections. Venezuelan officials have additionally accused the United States of attempting to appropriate the nation’s vast oil reserves, the largest globally, citing recent seizures of Venezuelan oil tankers.

While hawkish elements within the US administration celebrate Maduro’s removal as a major victory, the intervention raises complex questions about Venezuela’s political future. The country remains deeply divided, with Maduro’s government maintaining control over the judiciary, Supreme Court, military, and powerful paramilitary groups known as ‘colectivos.’

Potential succession scenarios involve opposition figures Maria Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, or Edmundo Gonzalez, the opposition candidate from the 2024 elections. However, analysts warn that transition may trigger violent fragmentation and prolonged power struggles, reminiscent of historical US-backed coups in Latin America during the 20th century.

The operation also creates diplomatic tensions with regional powers including Brazil and Colombia, which have expressed opposition to military intervention, while testing the loyalty of Trump’s domestic base that previously advocated ‘America First’ non-interventionism.

In a dramatic pre-dawn operation on Saturday, United States forces executed a targeted military strike in Venezuela resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. The detained leaders were subsequently transported out of the country to face formal narcoterrorism charges in United States federal courts, according to official American statements.

The rapid military intervention has plunged Venezuela into a state of political uncertainty, with preliminary reports indicating casualties though specific numbers remain unconfirmed. Explosions reverberated through Caracas as low-flying aircraft targeted military installations during the approximately 30-minute operation, leaving several areas without power and visible smoke rising from strategic locations.

This escalation follows months of intensified pressure from the Trump administration, which had previously deployed additional naval assets to South American waters and conducted strikes against alleged drug-smuggling operations. The operation represents the most direct confrontation in the ongoing tensions between Washington and Caracas.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed via social media that both Maduro and Flores face multiple indictments in the Southern District of New York, including charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons violations. While Maduro’s indictment dates to March 2020, Flores’s charges were previously undisclosed.

The legal justification for the operation remains subject to international scrutiny, with the Trump administration maintaining that Maduro lacks legitimate leadership status and has transformed Venezuela into a criminal enterprise. Senator Mike Lee suggested the action might fall within presidential authority to protect U.S. personnel from imminent threat.

Venezuela’s government condemned the operation as an ‘imperialist attack,’ urging citizens to mobilize in response. The constitutional succession process remains unclear, with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez theoretically positioned to assume power though no confirmation has emerged.

International reactions reflect deep divisions, with Russia condemning the action as ‘unacceptable infringement on sovereignty’ and Cuba urging global response to the ‘criminal attack.’ European allies expressed cautious concern, emphasizing respect for international law while acknowledging Maduro’s contested legitimacy. The European Union called for restraint and adherence to UN Charter principles, while British and Spanish leaders emphasized their non-involvement and urged de-escalation.

In a seismic geopolitical development, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was apprehended by U.S. military forces during a targeted operation in Caracas on Saturday. The capture marks a stunning conclusion to months of escalating pressure from the United States against the socialist leader’s regime.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the operation through an early morning social media announcement, while Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez subsequently disclosed that Maduro’s current whereabouts, along with those of his wife Cilia Flores, remain unverified. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi indicated that both Maduro and Flores will face charges stemming from a New York indictment.

Maduro’s extraordinary journey from Caracas bus driver to presidential palace spanned four decades, beginning with ideological training in Cuba in 1986—his only formal education after high school. His political ascent accelerated through his association with the late Hugo Chávez, who personally anointed Maduro as his successor during his final public address in 2013.

Maduro’s presidency became synonymous with catastrophic economic collapse and democratic backsliding. Under his administration, Venezuela experienced a 71% economic contraction between 2012-2020, hyperinflation exceeding 130,000%, and the mass exodus of over 7.7 million citizens. His rule was characterized by systematic repression, including the imprisonment and torture of political opponents.

The 2018 presidential election, widely criticized as illegitimate, saw Maduro declared winner amid widespread international condemnation. Subsequent negotiations facilitated by Norwegian diplomats failed to resolve fundamental political divisions, culminating in the 2024 election where opposition candidate Edmundo González allegedly secured a decisive victory according to independent tallies.

Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025 dramatically altered the strategic calculus, leading to increased military presence in the Caribbean and renewed focus on addressing narco-terrorism concerns. These developments ultimately precipitated the operation that ended Maduro’s controversial twelve-year presidency.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has expressed willingness to negotiate a bilateral agreement with the United States targeting drug trafficking operations, while simultaneously accusing Washington of pursuing regime change to access the country’s substantial oil reserves. The declaration came during a state-televised interview with Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet that aired Thursday, though the interview was originally recorded on New Year’s Eve.

Maduro declined to comment specifically on a recent CIA-led drone strike at a Venezuelan docking area allegedly used by cartels, stating he would address the incident “in a few days.” Instead, he framed the offer for cooperation as an alternative to current U.S. strategies, which he characterized as based on “threats, intimidation and force.”

The Venezuelan leader presented a dual proposition: potential collaboration on narcotics enforcement alongside invitations for expanded U.S. energy investment, specifically mentioning Chevron Corp.—currently the only major oil company exporting Venezuelan crude to the United States. “If they want oil, Venezuela is ready for U.S. investment, like with Chevron, whenever they want it, wherever they want it and however they want it,” Maduro stated.

This overture occurs against a backdrop of escalating military actions. The Trump administration has conducted 35 known boat strikes since August, resulting in at least 115 fatalities, including Venezuelan citizens. President Trump has characterized these operations as necessary escalations in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, with recent strikes expanding from Venezuela’s Caribbean coast to the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The CIA operation on Venezuelan soil represents a significant intensification of pressure against Maduro, who faces narco-terrorism charges in the United States. The administration’s campaign began with a substantial military deployment to the Caribbean Sea in August, which Maduro interprets as fundamentally aimed at securing control over Venezuela’s vast petroleum resources—the world’s largest proven oil reserves.