U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Maduro in Unprecedented Military Strike

U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Maduro in Unprecedented Military Strike In a dramatic escalation, United States military forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, marking the first direct U.S. military attack on a South American nation in history [41064]. The operation, which took place in Caracas on Saturday, detained Maduro and his wife, who were subsequently transported to New York to face drug trafficking charges [41880]. President Donald Trump announced the capture, stating the U.S. would oversee Venezuela's government and vowing that "American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again" [41064][41460]. The surprise military strike has sent shockwaves across Latin America, creating a deep political split among regional governments [47126]. While nations like Colombia and Brazil have offered cautious support, others, including Mexico and Bolivia, have condemned the action as a dangerous violation of international law and sovereignty [47297]. This public division masks a private fear shared by leaders across the political spectrum: the worry that their nation could be next [47126]. Analysts say the operation sets a major precedent for direct foreign intervention, reviving the long-standing U.S. policy of opposing foreign powers in the Americas, known as the Monroe Doctrine [41460][41465]. The move is also seen as a direct challenge to China's growing economic and diplomatic influence in the region, where Beijing has become a leading trade partner and lender [41460][45747]. The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Monday at Venezuela's request to address the incident [41880]. The capture has fundamentally altered the region's political landscape, forcing every capital to urgently re-examine its relationships with Washington and assess its own vulnerability to similar actions [47297]. U.S. Capture of Venezuela's Maduro Sends Shockwaves Through Latin America U.S. Capture of Maduro Sends Shockwave Through Latin America U.S. Captures Venezuela's Leader, Challenging China's Regional Reach Trump Revives US Habit of Ousting Latin American Leaders Venezuela's President Seized by U.S., Faces Court in New York Trump Orders First Direct US Military Attack on South America