U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Maduro in Shock Raid, Sparking Continental Crisis

U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Maduro in Shock Raid, Sparking Continental Crisis U.S. military forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, forcibly removing him from his country to face criminal charges in New York and triggering a political earthquake across Latin America [41460][41880]. In a surprise operation on Saturday, American troops entered Caracas and detained Maduro, 63, along with his wife [41880]. The Venezuelan leader is now in U.S. custody and is scheduled to appear in a federal court in New York on Monday to face drug trafficking charges [41880]. President Donald Trump announced the capture, stating the U.S. will run Venezuela's government but did not provide a timeline for new elections [41460]. The dramatic seizure of a sitting head of state has split regional governments and set a stark new precedent for foreign intervention in the Americas [47126][47297]. While nations historically critical of Maduro, including Colombia and Brazil, have offered cautious support, others have issued sharp condemnations [47297]. Mexico and Bolivia have denounced the action as a blatant violation of international law and national sovereignty [47297]. Analysts say the operation has revived the long-standing U.S. policy of the Monroe Doctrine, which opposes foreign powers in the Western Hemisphere, and is a direct challenge to China's expanding economic and diplomatic influence in the region [41460][45747]. China has become the leading trading partner and lender for many South American nations in recent years [45747]. Beyond the immediate crisis in Venezuela, the capture has instilled a private, continent-wide fear among leaders of all political stripes, who are now urgently reviewing their own vulnerability to similar foreign actions [47126][47297]. The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday at Venezuela's request to address the incident [41880]. 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 Venezuela's President Seized by U.S., Faces Court in New York Trump Revives US Habit of Ousting Latin American Leaders