President Donald Trump stated that the United States will step in to manage Venezuela until a stable and fair transition can take place, following a bold overnight military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Trump emphasized that major American oil companies will invest heavily to repair the country’s neglected oil facilities and get production flowing again, turning it into a profitable venture that benefits Venezuela. “The oil sector there has been a complete disaster for years,” he said during a press conference. “We’re bringing in our top companies the best in the world to pour billions in, fix everything that’s broken, and finally make real money for the people.”
Venezuela sits on some of the largest oil reserves globally, around 300 billion barrels, making up roughly 20% of the world’s known supply.
The operation kicked off early Saturday with explosions echoing through Caracas as US forces targeted military sites. Over the next couple of hours, aircraft filled the skies while special operations teams moved in to secure Maduro from his protected residence. Maduro and his wife were quickly airlifted out on a US helicopter, first to a naval ship in the Caribbean, then to Guantanamo Bay, and eventually to a detention center in New York City, where they’re facing serious charges related to drug trafficking, terrorism links, and illegal weapons.
Maduro has always strongly denied any involvement in drug cartels, calling the accusations a cover for US interests in Venezuela’s oil wealth.
Details on exactly how the US plans to “run” the country remain vague, but Trump mentioned a team effort to ensure proper governance. He noted conversations between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez who has been positioned as interim leader by the country’s top court and said she seemed open to cooperation. However, Rodríguez later insisted on state television that Maduro remains the rightful president and that the nation is prepared to resist any outside interference.
Trump dismissed opposition figure María Corina Machado as lacking the necessary backing to lead, saying he hadn’t spoken with her.
The move has sparked sharp reactions worldwide. Close allies like Russia and China condemned it as outright aggression against a sovereign nation. Neighbors such as Colombia and Brazil voiced strong disapproval, while Cuba called it a criminal act. On the flip side, Argentina’s president showed support, and some European leaders, though cautious about the method, welcomed the end of Maduro’s rule and urged a peaceful shift to legitimate leadership.
This operation caps off months of intensifying pressure from the Trump administration, including sanctions and strikes on suspected drug vessels in the region.
What comes next for Venezuela is uncertain, with risks of instability looming large as the US navigates this unprecedented intervention.