U.S. Snatches Maduro, Says It’s Taking Over Venezuela’s Oil
U.S. Snatches Maduro, Says It’s Taking Over Venezuela’s Oil
In a stunning military operation, U.S. forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and the White House now says it plans to "run" the country and seize its oil reserves [41227][41525][41055]. The strike, carried out on Saturday, targeted military positions in Venezuela and removed the sitting head of state from power [41033][41227][41088].
Former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the capture, calling it a "large-scale strike" [40942][41088]. He stated the United States intends to temporarily administer Venezuela, fix its broken oil infrastructure, and sell its crude to other nations [41227][40871][41525]. "We will take back the oil," Trump said, adding that the action ensures "American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again" [41525].
Maduro and his wife have been transported to New York, where they face charges of terrorism and drug trafficking [40942][41136]. U.S. officials have long labeled Maduro’s government illegitimate, accusing it of corruption, human rights abuses, and running a "narco terrorist organisation" [40668][40942][41136].
The operation has left Venezuela in a dangerous power vacuum. No successor has been named, and it remains unclear who is currently in charge [41136][42114]. Trump suggested Maduro’s deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, should follow U.S. orders as interim president, but she has so far defied Washington [41525].
International reaction is divided, with allies expressing support and other nations condemning the move [41033][40505]. Legal experts have already questioned the strike’s legality under international law, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent for global sovereignty [40942][40737].
The future for Venezuela’s 30 million people is now deeply uncertain. The country holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but its economy has collapsed under years of mismanagement and sanctions, leaving it in a severe humanitarian crisis [41227][40871][42114].