Hamilton, Canada/Washington – U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in his first major interview since the January 3, 2026, military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, declared that the United States will "set the terms" for Venezuela's next chapter. Speaking to CBS News late Saturday from Hamilton, Canada—where he was attending a bilateral defense meeting—Hegseth described the raid as "the most sophisticated, most complicated, most successful Joint Special Operations raid of all time."
Hegseth elaborated on the operation's unprecedented scale: "Nothing of this size and scope when you actually unpack what was done kinetically and non-kinetically, that many people, that many moving parts, that consequential, and they got the job done." The comments align with earlier Pentagon briefings detailing Operation Absolute Resolve, which involved over 150 aircraft, elite Delta Force units, cyber disruptions, and a rapid extraction of Maduro and Flores from Caracas to New York.
Addressing President Donald Trump's earlier statement that the U.S. would "run the country" during a transition period, Hegseth clarified: "Well, it means we set the terms. President Trump sets the terms, and ultimately, he'll decide what the iterations are of that." He emphasized strategic objectives, including halting drug trafficking, countering foreign influence—implicitly referencing China, Russia, and Iran—and securing U.S. economic interests. "It means the oil that was taken from us is returned ultimately, and that criminals are not sent to the United States," Hegseth said, adding, "so ultimately, we're going to control what happens next."
The Defense Secretary strongly rejected comparisons to the 2003 Iraq invasion, calling the Venezuela operation "the exact opposite." He argued that it avoids prolonged occupation or large-scale troop commitments while delivering economic benefits: "We're going to get American companies in there. We're going to get investment there." Hegseth highlighted Venezuela's historical prosperity, asserting it had been "stolen away from its people by horrific leadership," and claimed the U.S. intervention would restore capacity in oil facilities currently "operating at 20%," benefiting both Venezuelans and Americans.
When pressed on whether the action was driven by freedom or oil, Hegseth responded it encompassed "freedom, security, prosperity," while acknowledging past disputes over nationalized U.S. assets from the Chávez era. He predicted the coming days would showcase "American strength" through strategic private-sector involvement rather than military governance.
The interview comes amid intense international backlash and domestic debate. Maduro and Flores remain in custody at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, awaiting arraignment on superseding narco-terrorism and drug-trafficking charges. Venezuelan acting leader Delcy Rodríguez has demanded their immediate release and proof of life, while condemning the strikes that reportedly killed at least 40 people.
Global reactions remain sharply divided. China, Russia, Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia have denounced the operation as illegal aggression violating sovereignty. The UN Security Council held emergency consultations on January 4, with several members calling for restraint. In contrast, leaders in Argentina, El Salvador, Paraguay, Peru, and Panama welcomed Maduro's removal as a step toward democracy.
Oil markets showed muted response, with analysts noting that restoring Venezuela's production—down to roughly 1 million barrels per day from over 3 million pre-sanctions—could require years and billions in investment. Major U.S. firms like Chevron, already operating under limited licenses, have not commented on potential expanded roles.
Hegseth's remarks underscore the Trump administration's vision of leveraging military success for economic gains without traditional nation-building. Critics warn of risks including insurgency, refugee flows, and strained hemispheric relations. Supporters view it as decisive action against a regime indicted for flooding the U.S. with narcotics and migrants.
As Maduro's trial looms and Venezuela faces uncertainty, the Pentagon has signaled no plans for ground occupation but readiness to respond to threats. The operation's long-term implications—for regional stability, energy markets, and U.S. foreign policy doctrine—continue to unfold.
