US Captures Venezuelan President in Raid, Experts Debate Fallout

On the morning of January 3, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores,under an operation codenamed "Absolute Resolve."

The U.S. had been assembling forces in the Caribbean around Venezuela's border since August 2025,launching airstrikes on dozens of Venezuelan vessels suspected of smuggling drugs, resulting in at least 115 casualties,according to a report byThe Wall Street Journal.

According to U.S. government officials familiar with the operation,intelligence operatives began tracking Maduro's activitiesin the summer of 2025through a source within his inner circle.U.S. special operations forces conducted repeated training exercises in a full-scale replica of the Venezuelan presidential bunker as Trumpand his advisors debated whether to intervene with force.

Trump finally greenlit the raidafterdiplomatic demands that Maduro voluntarilyrelinquish power were rejected. ThePentagon eventually chose January 3 as the date the mission would commence.

The operation began with a cyberattack that cut power across much of Caracas, allowing around 150 U.S. aircraft carrying special forces to approach undetected, according to a report byThe New York Times. （Related： US Offers Temporary Tariff Waiver for Chinese Chips ｜ Latest ）

U.S. troops soon entered the complex whereMaduro was located, engaging in a short firefight beforecapturing and arresting the Venezuelan leader and his wife as they attempted to flee to a safety room, within only five minutes after entering the building.

No deaths of U.S. personnel were officially reported from the operation, with onlyone U.S. aircraft damaged and several Americans injured.

Trump later released a photo of Maduro in transit aboard the USS Iwo Jima, showing the Venezuelan leader wearing sunglasses, handcuffed, and dressed in a gray Nike tracksuit. The couple wascharged withnarcoterrorism bya U.S. federal court after they were flown intoNew York state on the evening of December 3.

Venezuela's Troubles

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim presidentin Maduro's absencefollowing the operation.

Maduro's regime forced millions of Venezuelans to flee their country, while those who remain havefaced torture, economic paralysis, hyperinflation, widespread poverty, and political repressionfor seeking change through voting, protests, and othermeans ofcivic disobedience.The International Criminal Court has yet to issue any indictments since beginning an investigationinto allegations of the regime's human rights abusesin 2021. （Related： US Offers Temporary Tariff Waiver for Chinese Chips ｜ Latest ）

A Venezuelan opposition movement led by María Corina Machado achieved a decisive victory in the presidential election of July 2024. However, Maduro's government refused to recognize the outcome, exacerbating the crisis and contributing to the current U.S. military intervention.

Diverse Opinions

The operationhas sparked diverse opinions among experts on thefuture direction of Venezuela and the role of the U.S. in the Western Hemisphere

The Washington-based think tank CSIS praised the operation as a success, with Ryan Berg, the head of the organization's director of the Americas Program,notingthat the action shows the U.S. is serious about reasserting dominance in the Western Hemisphere, as emphasized in an earlier blueprint for national security released by the administration.

He emphasized that America planned to lead the reconstruction of Venezuela, with a particular focus on rebuilding the oil industry and its associated interests, aiming for a fair and orderly transition of power. Trump's threat to undertake other military action if necessary seemed to pressure remnants of the Venezuelan regime to "settle while they can.

Berg also sees this operation as a clear signal to China. Beijing has lent over $60 billion to Venezuela over the decades, and Chineseenvoys metwith the Venezuelan president just hours before his capture.

Former NSC Chief of Staff Alexander B. Gray believes thatMaduro's captureserves as a warning to other U.S. adversariesin the region, like Cuba and Nicaragua, while also sendinga clear signal that Trump is committed to creating a security order that aligns with U.S. interests.

Gray believes that U.S. attempt to reestablish dominance in the hemisphere post-Madurocanensure no substantial influence in Venezuela from China and Russia.

But to succeed in a successful regime change in Venezuela, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Tressa Guenov stated thatthe U.S. must commit years of diplomatic and economic efforts, warningthat even a short-term intervention in the country will demand substantial amounts of troops and money. （Related： US Offers Temporary Tariff Waiver for Chinese Chips ｜ Latest ）