U.S. Seizes Control of Venezuela After Capturing President Maduro

U.S. military forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a major operation, leading to an unprecedented American announcement that it will now administer the South American nation and take control of its vast oil reserves.

President Donald Trump confirmed the capture, stating the United States is now "in charge" of Venezuela following what he described as a "large scale strike" [40576]. U.S. forces reportedly detained Maduro and his wife in Caracas before flying them to the United States to face prosecution [43120][40871]. Following the operation, President Trump declared the U.S. would temporarily "run" the country with a key goal of accessing its oil [41525][40871].

Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves, but its industry has collapsed after years of economic crisis, mismanagement, and U.S. sanctions [42569][41290]. The Trump administration has long pressured Maduro's socialist government, recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country's legitimate president [41735]. Analysts say the direct military action marks a dramatic escalation and a major shift in U.S. policy, explicitly tying the political crisis to securing energy resources [40965][43120].

"The oil fields are in terrible disrepair," said Ed Hirs, an energy expert at the University of Houston. He explained that significant investment and time would be needed to restore output, even with operational control [42569]. President Trump is now urging American oil companies to invest, seeing the political shift as a major opportunity [42583][42220].

The Venezuelan government condemned the action as a serious military aggression and a violation of international law, accusing the U.S. of trying to seize its resources [40532]. The long-term consequences are expected to be profound, potentially reshaping global oil markets and setting a new precedent for U.S. intervention [42199][43120]. The international community has yet to fully react to this escalation, with Colombia requesting an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting [40532].