U.S. Capture of Nicolás Maduro Sparks Global Turmoil

The world is reeling after the United States carried out a surprise overnight military operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, according to multiple reports.

A Rapid, Highly Coordinated Operation

U.S. forces executed what President Donald Trump described as a “large‑scale strike” involving aircraft launched from more than 20 bases across the Western Hemisphere.

• The mission, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, included over 150 aircraft, drones, bombers, and special operations helicopters.
• U.S. forces disabled Venezuela’s air defenses and entered Maduro’s fortified presidential compound in Caracas shortly after 2 a.m. local time.
• Maduro attempted to reach a steel-enforced safe room but was intercepted before he could secure himself inside, according to Trump and military officials.

Explosions and low‑flying aircraft were reported across the capital as the Venezuelan government accused the U.S. of attacking civilian and military sites.

Maduro Transported to the United States

Following his capture, Maduro and Flores were flown to a U.S. Navy vessel and later transported to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York.
He now faces federal charges, including narco‑terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons offenses, according to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Maduro had been under U.S. indictment since 2020, charges he has repeatedly denied.

Venezuela Declares Emergency

Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, condemned the operation as an act of “imperialist aggression” and declared a national state of emergency, urging citizens to mobilize against foreign intervention.

Rodríguez also accused the U.S. of seeking control of Venezuela’s natural resources, particularly its vast oil reserves.

International Reaction

The operation triggered immediate global responses:

• Russia, Mexico, and the United Kingdom issued statements condemning the strike and questioning its legality.
• Argentina’s President Javier Milei publicly celebrated the capture, while Colombia called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting.
• The UN Human Rights Office warned that the action “made all states less safe around the world,” according to early reporting.

U.S. Domestic Response

American public opinion is sharply divided.

• Only about one‑third of Americans supported the operation, according to early Reuters/Ipsos polling.
• 72% expressed concern that the U.S. could become overly entangled in Venezuela’s internal affairs.
• Support split heavily along party lines, with 65–74% of Republicans approving the strike and only 11–14% of Democrats doing so.

Several Democratic lawmakers have called for President Trump’s impeachment over the unauthorized use of military force.

Celebrations and Misinformation

Videos of people celebrating Maduro’s capture circulated widely online, though fact‑checking revealed that some footage was filmed not in Venezuela but in Doral, Florida, home to a large Venezuelan diaspora community.

Military Movements Continue

In the days following the operation, U.S. military aircraft and special forces were observed conducting training drills in the United Kingdom, raising speculation about further operations, including the pursuit of a Venezuela‑linked oil tanker in the Atlantic.