U.S. Forces Seize Venezuelan President Maduro in Unprecedented Military Raid

U.S. Forces Seize Venezuelan President Maduro in Unprecedented Military Raid In a dramatic escalation, United States military forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise operation in Caracas, marking the first direct U.S. military attack on a South American nation and sending shockwaves across the region [41064][41460][41880]. The operation, which took place on Saturday, resulted in the detention of Maduro, 63, and his wife. They were subsequently transported out of Venezuela and are now in U.S. custody [41460][41880]. President Donald Trump announced the capture, stating the U.S. would oversee Venezuela's government but did not provide a timeline for new elections [41460]. Maduro is scheduled to appear in a federal court in New York on Monday to face charges of drug trafficking [41880]. The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday at Venezuela's request to address the incident [41880]. The action has sharply divided Latin American governments. While nations like Colombia and Brazil have offered cautious support, others, including Mexico and Bolivia, have condemned it as a dangerous violation of international law and sovereignty [47297]. Analysts note that despite public disagreements, the event has instilled a private fear among leaders who are now urgently assessing their own vulnerability to similar foreign interventions [47126][47297]. President Trump framed the operation as a reassertion of American power, declaring that "American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again" [41064]. Experts warn the move revives the long-standing U.S. "Monroe Doctrine," a policy opposing foreign influence in the Americas, and is seen as a direct challenge to China's growing economic and diplomatic footprint in the region [41460][45747]. The capture sets a major precedent for the extraterritorial apprehension of a sitting head of state, fundamentally altering the geopolitical landscape of Latin America and raising tensions continent-wide [47297][47126]. 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 Trump Orders First Direct US Military Attack on South America