U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan Leader, Assert Control Over Nation

U.S. military forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a major operation, with former President Donald Trump declaring the United States will now "run" the South American country. The action marks a direct and unprecedented intervention into Venezuela's long-standing political crisis.

According to multiple reports, the operation involved U.S. strikes and a raid on Venezuelan soil, resulting in the detention of Maduro and his wife [40972][41055][41227]. Following the capture, Trump stated the U.S. is now "in charge" of Venezuela and intends to "take back the oil," referencing the nation's vast petroleum reserves [41525][46443]. He suggested the move ensures "American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again" [41525].

The U.S. and dozens of other nations had previously ceased to recognize Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate president, instead backing opposition leader Juan Guaidó [41735][40972]. However, this military action represents a significant escalation from diplomatic and economic pressure. "The United States, once the main enforcer of international rules, has now directly removed a foreign leader," one analysis noted, predicting profound consequences for global diplomacy [43120].

The immediate aftermath has created deep uncertainty within Venezuela. While Maduro's constitutional successor would be his deputy, Trump suggested that figure should follow U.S. orders as an interim president [41126][41525]. The Venezuelan government has condemned the action as a "serious military aggression" and an attempt to seize the country's resources, calling for international condemnation [40532].

Reactions from the international community are developing, with Colombia requesting an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting [40532]. Analysts describe the move as setting a dangerous global precedent and a major shift toward an openly interventionist U.S. foreign policy [41525][42713]. The long-term plan for governing Venezuela and the full reaction of Venezuela's military and political institutions remain unclear.