On January 3, 2026, U.S. forces conducted a large-scale military strike on Venezuela, culminating in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The operation, described by President Donald Trump as a "large scale strike," involved airstrikes on military targets in Caracas and other areas, followed by a raid that extracted the couple from their residence. Maduro and Flores were flown out of the country and arrived in New York, where they face federal drug-trafficking and narco-terrorism charges in the Southern District of New York.
In a press conference from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on the same day, Trump detailed plans for U.S. involvement in Venezuela's future, emphasizing the role of American oil companies in revitalizing the nation's energy sector. "As everyone knows, the oil business in Venezuela has been a bust for a long period of time," Trump stated. "We're going to have our very large United States oil companies — the biggest anywhere in the world — go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country." These remarks align closely with the user's provided quotes, confirming Trump's focus on infrastructure repair and economic benefits.
Trump further announced that the U.S. would temporarily "run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition." He indicated this would involve a "group" including key administration officials, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, though specifics on governance remained limited.
The operation followed months of escalating U.S. pressure on Maduro's government, including military buildup in the Caribbean, seizures of oil tankers, and strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels. Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves—approximately 303 billion barrels, or 17% of global totals—but production has plummeted to around 1 million barrels per day due to sanctions, mismanagement, and lack of investment under Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chávez.
Analysts note that restoring full production could require tens of billions in investment and years of effort, given the degraded state of pipelines and facilities. Trump described the move as necessary to protect U.S. interests, accusing prior Venezuelan regimes of "stealing" American oil assets through nationalizations dating back to 2007, when companies like ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips were forced out.
Maduro, indicted in 2020 on narco-terrorism charges (with a new indictment unsealed in 2026 adding weapons-related counts), was transported via the USS Iwo Jima amphibious assault ship before arriving in New York. An arraignment is expected early the following week. The raid was executed by elite U.S. Army Delta Force units, with no American fatalities reported, though Venezuelan sources claim civilian and military casualties from the strikes.
International reactions were swift and divided. The United Nations expressed alarm, with Secretary-General António Guterres calling the actions a "dangerous precedent" and urging respect for international law. Protests erupted in several cities worldwide, including Washington, D.C., and Paris, opposing U.S. intervention. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez denounced the strikes as "military aggression" and called for resistance, though her whereabouts were initially unclear.
Domestically, Republican lawmakers largely supported the operation, viewing it as a decisive blow against drug trafficking and regional instability. Some Democrats raised concerns about congressional authorization and long-term U.S. entanglement. Oil market analysts predicted limited immediate impact on global prices, as sanctions remain in place pending further policy details.
Trump's emphasis on oil echoes his longstanding interest in resource-rich interventions, previously voiced during discussions of Iraq and Venezuela. He claimed the operation would benefit Venezuelans by generating revenue and stability, while positioning U.S. companies to lead reconstruction efforts. Major firms like Chevron (the only U.S. company recently operating in Venezuela under limited licenses) have not publicly commented on potential expanded roles, citing compliance with laws.
This event marks one of the most direct U.S. interventions in Latin America in decades, comparable to the 1989 Panama invasion. As Venezuela navigates uncertainty—with opposition figures like Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado yet to fully respond—the path to transition remains undefined. Trump's administration has signaled no immediate further military actions, but warned of readiness for escalation if needed.
