The United States has launched a dramatic military operation against Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in an overnight assault that has triggered global outrage, legal condemnation, and deep uncertainty about the future of the South American nation.
Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, US President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces carried out what he described as a “stunning, effective and powerful” operation against Venezuela, adding that Washington now intends to temporarily assume control of the country until a political transition is completed.
“We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said, addressing reporters from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. He insisted that the US did not intend to impose a permanent leadership arrangement but would oversee Venezuela during what he called a stabilisation period.
The operation, which began in the early hours of Saturday, reportedly involved airstrikes on strategic locations in and around Caracas, Venezuela’s capital. According to US officials, more than 150 aircraft were deployed across the western hemisphere in a highly coordinated mission aimed at maintaining tactical surprise while inserting an interdiction force into central Caracas.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, said the operation unfolded with “precision and overwhelming coordination,” adding that no American service members were killed and no US equipment was lost during the mission. Trump echoed that claim, boasting of what he described as flawless military execution.
US forces seized Maduro and his wife during the assault, later transporting them out of the country. Footage broadcast by American media outlets showed US officials escorting a man identified as Maduro off a plane at Stewart International Airport in New York State, approximately 97 kilometres northwest of New York City.
A Justice Department official later confirmed that Maduro is expected to make an initial appearance at a federal court in Manhattan on Monday. US authorities say the Venezuelan leader and his wife face multiple criminal charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons-related offences.
Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the administration’s actions, stating that the charges stem from long-running investigations into alleged ties between Maduro’s government and international drug trafficking networks. “They will face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” she said in a statement.
Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, has consistently denied accusations of involvement in drug trafficking, maintaining that the United States has been working to overthrow his government in order to gain access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. His administration has previously accused Washington of economic warfare, citing US sanctions and the seizure of Venezuelan oil assets abroad.
Trump appeared to reinforce those economic undertones during Saturday’s news conference, stating that major US oil companies would soon move into Venezuela to repair what he called the country’s “badly broken” oil infrastructure. According to Trump, American involvement in the energy sector would help generate revenue and economic stability for Venezuelans.
“This will make the people of Venezuela rich, independent and safe,” he said.
However, Trump’s declaration that the US would “run” Venezuela has drawn fierce backlash both domestically and internationally. Critics argue that the operation constitutes a clear violation of international law and sets a dangerous precedent for unilateral military intervention.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the attack, warning that the use of force against a sovereign nation undermines global stability. “Attacking countries in flagrant violation of international law is the first step toward a world of violence, chaos and instability, where the law of the strongest prevails,” he wrote on social media.
The United Nations also expressed alarm. A spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres said the developments were deeply concerning and emphasised the need for strict adherence to international law and the UN Charter. “The Secretary-General is deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected,” the statement said.
Ben Saul, the UN special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, described the operation as an “illegal abduction” and condemned what he termed US aggression against Venezuela.
Within the United States, lawmakers from the Democratic Party criticised the administration for launching the military action without congressional authorisation. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the decision reckless and warned of serious consequences.
“The idea that Trump plans to now run Venezuela should strike fear in the hearts of all Americans,” Schumer said in a statement. “We have seen this before, and the American people paid a devastating price.”
Legal experts have also drawn parallels between the Venezuela operation and the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Mary Ellen O’Connell, a professor of international law at Notre Dame Law School, argued that while addressing drug trafficking is a legitimate concern, military occupation is not a proven solution.
“Successful economies require strong institutions, independent courts and respect for the rule of law,” O’Connell said. “The best prediction now is that chaos will follow in Venezuela, just as it did in Iraq.”
Amid the international backlash, confusion has emerged over Venezuela’s internal leadership. Trump claimed that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez had been sworn in as president and had spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suggesting she was prepared to cooperate with Washington’s plans.
“She’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary,” Trump said, adding that she “doesn’t really have a choice.”
Rodríguez, however, appeared to reject that narrative. Speaking later in Caracas, she demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, insisting that Maduro remains Venezuela’s only legitimate president.
“We are ready to defend Venezuela and our natural resources, which are meant for national development,” she said, warning that the country would not become a colony of the United States.
Venezuela’s Defence Minister, Vladimir Padrino López, also issued a defiant statement, urging citizens to remain calm and united. “We will not negotiate, and we will not give up,” he said, stressing that the nation’s independence was not open to discussion.
For ordinary Venezuelans, the developments have sparked a mix of shock, disbelief and anxiety. Journalists on the ground reported divided reactions, with some citizens celebrating Maduro’s removal, others expressing fear, and many waiting cautiously to see what comes next.
Caracas-based journalist Sissi de Flaviis described the mood as a “rollercoaster of emotions,” noting that Trump’s announcement that the US would run the country intensified public concern. “People are worried about what this will mean for our future and who will actually lead us in the coming days and months,” she said.
Former US naval officer Harlan Ullman warned that the idea of Washington governing Venezuela could backfire badly. “We’re not capable of running America effectively in many respects,” he said. “A country is extraordinarily complex, and I do not believe we have a real plan for dealing with Venezuela.”
As uncertainty deepens, questions remain over how long the US intends to remain involved, what form the proposed transition will take, and whether the operation will stabilise Venezuela or plunge it further into turmoil. For now, the unprecedented intervention has reshaped regional politics and ignited a global debate over power, sovereignty and the limits of military force.
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