US Seizes Venezuelan President, Vows to "Run" Country and "Take Back the Oil"

The United States has seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and announced it will "run" the country. The move follows major US military strikes on Venezuela. President Donald Trump said the action ensures "American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again." He stated the US intends to "take back the oil." This marks the first major US military attack on South American land. The seizure happened days after Maduro publicly sought negotiations with the US. The unilateral action sets a dangerous global precedent, analysts say. Venezuelans now face deep uncertainty. Maduro's repressive regime is widely accused of stealing the last election. Trump suggested Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, should follow US orders as interim president. However, Rodríguez has so far defied the US. The US has a long history of interference in the region. This unprecedented escalation is expected to have repercussions far beyond Venezuela.