A pre dawn raid, a captured president, and a blunt claim over oil have pushed Venezuela into its most dangerous geopolitical moment in decades, with Latin America watching the shockwaves spread.
In the early hours of Saturday, Venezuela woke to explosions, smoke, and an announcement that stunned the region. President Donald Trump declared that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been arrested following a massive US military operation targeting Caracas.
Trump confirmed that Maduro and Flores were being transported to New York to face what he described as US justice, after American special forces stormed the presidential compound. Speaking to reporters, Trump said he watched the raid live, claiming US troops broke through reinforced steel doors and secured the target within minutes.
No American soldiers were killed during the operation, according to US officials, although several were injured when a helicopter came under fire during extraction. Maduro and his wife are now being held aboard the USS Iwo Jima, where US authorities say they face charges related to drug trafficking and corruption, with potential sentences extending to 25 years.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said the pair would be prosecuted on American soil, stressing that accountability had been long overdue. Trump, meanwhile, shifted quickly from security to resources, making a statement that sent fresh shockwaves through diplomatic circles.
“Venezuela’s oil is now ours,” Trump said, adding that the United States was “taking back the oil that was stolen from us.” He emphasized that major American energy companies would now be deeply involved in Venezuela’s oil sector, framing the move as both economic justice and national interest.
US Vice President J.D. Vance echoed that message, arguing that drug trafficking must be stopped and that “the stolen oil must be returned to the United States.” Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, and its earlier nationalization of assets owned by US companies is widely seen as a core cause of the long running confrontation.
Inside Venezuela, the government denounced the raid as an “imperialist invasion” and called on citizens to resist. International reaction was swift and divided. France and Brazil condemned the operation as a violation of international law, while Russia demanded immediate clarification on Maduro’s whereabouts. Colombia called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Israel and Argentina welcomed Maduro’s removal from power. Britain said it was not involved and urged respect for international law. Analysts warn that this dramatic intervention will reshape Venezuela’s future and test the stability of the entire Latin American region.
