AI NEWS SOURCE: CARACAS, Venezuela — January 4, 2026 — In a cinematic and high-stakes military operation that has fundamentally reshaped the geopolitics of the Western Hemisphere, U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the early hours of January 3, 2026. The “snatch-and-grab” mission, conducted amidst a barrage of precision airstrikes across Caracas, ended Maduro’s thirteen-year grip on power and has plunged the nation into a volatile interim period where the line between liberation and occupation remains dangerously blurred.
As Maduro awaits trial in New York on narco-terrorism charges, the world is left asking: Will Venezuela finally transition to a stable democracy, or is it destined for a new era of chaos?
Operation “Absolute Resolve”: The Decapitation of a Regime
The operation, part of the broader Operation Southern Spear campaign, began under the cover of darkness around 2:00 a.m. local time. Elite units from the U.S. Army’s Delta Force infiltrated the heavily fortified Miraflores Palace and the Fuerte Tiuna military complex. Witnesses in Caracas described a night of “terror and awe” as more than 150 low-flying U.S. aircraft neutralized air defenses and jammed the city’s electrical grid, leaving the regime’s security forces blind.
By dawn, President Donald Trump confirmed the success of the mission via Truth Social, posting a photograph of a handcuffed and blindfolded Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima. “We have captured the outlaw dictator,” Trump later told reporters from Mar-a-Lago. “Venezuela is now under our care, and we are going to run it until it’s great again.”
The Power Vacuum: Rubio, Rodriguez, and the “Pottery Barn” Principle
While the tactical success of the mission is undeniable, the political aftermath is fraught with complexity. Following Maduro’s removal, Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice—still largely composed of regime loyalists—ordered Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the role of interim president.
The U.S. response to Rodriguez has been inconsistent. President Trump revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already held discussions with Rodriguez, leading to concerns that the U.S. might be seeking a “stability-first” approach by cooperating with former regime insiders.
“The president’s statement that the U.S. will ‘run’ Venezuela has created enormous confusion,” says Carrie Filipetti, Executive Director of the Vandenberg Coalition and a former State Department official. “There is a massive difference between supporting a democratic transition and acting as a colonial patron.”
The Opposition’s Dilemma: The Nobel Prize vs. The Interim Ruler
The most glaring tension is the treatment of the legitimate democratic opposition. María Corina Machado, who was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize just weeks ago, remains the most popular figure in the country. Her candidate, Edmundo González, is widely believed to have won the 2024 elections by a landslide.
However, during a Saturday press conference, President Trump was dismissive of Machado, suggesting she lacked the “gravitas” to potentially lead the country. This assessment has alarmed experts like Filipetti, who argue that bypassing the democratic opposition in favor of Delcy Rodriguez would be a catastrophic mistake.
| Key Players in the Transition | Role/Status | Stance on U.S. Intervention |
| Donald Trump | U.S. President | “Running” Venezuela in the interim to “get the oil flowing.” |
| Delcy Rodriguez | Interim President (STJ Appointed) | Demands Maduro’s release; currently negotiating with U.S. |
| María Corina Machado | Opposition Leader (Nobel Laureate) | Seeking full restoration of the 2024 election results. |
| Marco Rubio | U.S. Secretary of State | Lead diplomat managing the “proper and judicious” transition. |
THE CAPTURE OF CARACAS: INSIDE THE OPERATION THAT TOPPED MADURO
CARACAS, Venezuela — January 4, 2026 — In a cinematic and high-stakes military operation that has fundamentally reshaped the geopolitics of the Western Hemisphere, U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the early hours of January 3, 2026. The “snatch-and-grab” mission, conducted amidst a barrage of precision airstrikes across Caracas, ended Maduro’s thirteen-year grip on power and has plunged the nation into a volatile interim period where the line between liberation and occupation remains dangerously blurred.
As Maduro awaits trial in New York on narco-terrorism charges, the world is left asking: Will Venezuela finally transition to a stable democracy, or is it destined for a new era of chaos?
Operation “Absolute Resolve”: The Decapitation of a Regime
The operation, part of the broader Operation Southern Spear campaign, began under the cover of darkness around 2:00 a.m. local time. Elite units from the U.S. Army’s Delta Force infiltrated the heavily fortified Miraflores Palace and the Fuerte Tiuna military complex. Witnesses in Caracas described a night of “terror and awe” as more than 150 low-flying U.S. aircraft neutralized air defenses and jammed the city’s electrical grid, leaving the regime’s security forces blind.
By dawn, President Donald Trump confirmed the success of the mission via Truth Social, posting a photograph of a handcuffed and blindfolded Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima. “We have captured the outlaw dictator,” Trump later told reporters from Mar-a-Lago. “Venezuela is now under our care, and we are going to run it until it’s great again.”
The Power Vacuum: Rubio, Rodriguez, and the “Pottery Barn” Principle
While the tactical success of the mission is undeniable, the political aftermath is fraught with complexity. Following Maduro’s removal, Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice—still largely composed of regime loyalists—ordered Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the role of interim president.
The U.S. response to Rodriguez has been inconsistent. President Trump revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already held discussions with Rodriguez, leading to concerns that the U.S. might be seeking a “stability-first” approach by cooperating with former regime insiders.
“The president’s statement that the U.S. will ‘run’ Venezuela has created enormous confusion,” says Carrie Filipetti, Executive Director of the Vandenberg Coalition and a former State Department official. “There is a massive difference between supporting a democratic transition and acting as a colonial patron.”
The Opposition’s Dilemma: The Nobel Prize vs. The Interim Ruler
The most glaring tension is the treatment of the legitimate democratic opposition. María Corina Machado, who was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize just weeks ago, remains the most popular figure in the country. Her candidate, Edmundo González, is widely believed to have won the 2024 elections by a landslide.
However, during a Saturday press conference, President Trump was dismissive of Machado, suggesting she lacked the “gravitas” to potentially lead the country. This assessment has alarmed experts like Filipetti, who argue that bypassing the democratic opposition in favor of Delcy Rodriguez would be a catastrophic mistake.
| Key Players in the Transition | Role/Status | Stance on U.S. Intervention |
| Donald Trump | U.S. President | “Running” Venezuela in the interim to “get the oil flowing.” |
| Delcy Rodriguez | Interim President (STJ Appointed) | Demands Maduro’s release; currently negotiating with U.S. |
| María Corina Machado | Opposition Leader (Nobel Laureate) | Seeking full restoration of the 2024 election results. |
| Marco Rubio | U.S. Secretary of State | Lead diplomat managing the “proper and judicious” transition. |
The Geopolitics of Oil and Great Power Competition
Beyond the humanitarian concerns, the shadow of oil looms large. Venezuela sits atop the world’s largest proven oil reserves. President Trump has been transparent about his desire to see American companies take over the struggling nationalized industry.
FAQS TO KNOW
How was Nicolás Maduro captured?
On the morning of January 3, 2026, the U.S. military launched Operation Absolute Resolve, a surgical “snatch-and-grab” mission conducted by Delta Force. Under the cover of airstrikes targeting military infrastructure and electrical grids, special operations helicopters (from the 160th SOAR) landed at Fort Tiuna. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained at their residence and immediately flown to the USS Iwo Jima before being transported to New York.
What charges is he facing in the United States?
Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. The primary charges include:
- Narco-terrorism conspiracy
- Cocaine trafficking into the United States
- Possession of machine guns and destructive devices
- Leading the Cartel of the Suns, a criminal organization involving high-ranking Venezuelan officials.
Who is currently leading Venezuela?
The leadership situation is currently contested:
- Delcy Rodriguez: Venezuela’s Supreme Court (STJ) ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the role of Acting President to ensure “administrative continuity.”
- The United States: President Trump stated that the U.S. will effectively “run” the country in the interim to facilitate a “safe, proper, and judicious transition.”
- The Opposition: Supporters of María Corina Machado and Edmundo González argue that the 2024 election results should be immediately recognized, placing González in power as the democratically elected leader.
Why did the U.S. intervene now?
The Trump administration justified the operation as a law enforcement action rather than an act of war. The legal framing relies on Maduro’s 2020 indictment and the designation of certain Venezuelan gangs (like Tren de Aragua) as foreign terrorist organizations. Strategically, the move aligns with the “Trump Corollary” to the National Security Strategy, which aims to remove non-hemispheric competitors (Russia, China, Iran) from the Americas.
What is the “Pottery Barn” Principle being mentioned?
In foreign policy, this refers to the idea that “if you break it, you own it.” Analysts use this to describe the U.S. position in Venezuela: by removing the head of state, the U.S. has taken on the massive responsibility of stabilizing the economy, managing the humanitarian crisis, and rebuilding the oil sector (PDVSA) to prevent a total descent into chaos.
How has the international community reacted?
- Support: Israel and several regional allies have lauded the move as a victory for freedom.
- Condemnation: China, Russia, and Iran have condemned the strike as a violation of international law and a “barbaric” act of aggression.
- Neutral/Concerned: The UK and France have emphasized the need to uphold international law, with the UK explicitly stating it was not involved in the operation.