Jump to content

2026 United States strikes in Venezuela

Page extended-confirmed-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Operation Absolute Resolve)

Operation Absolute Resolve
Part of the crisis in Venezuela and the war on drugs
Location
Northern Venezuela, including Greater Caracas
Planned byUnited States Department of Defense
Commanded byDonald Trump
Target
Date3 January 2026
02:01 – 04:29[1] (VET, UTC−04:00)
Executed by
Outcome
  • Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores captured by the US military
  • Delcy Rodríguez sworn in as acting president of Venezuela
CasualtiesKilled:
  • 23 Venezuelan military personnel
  • 32 Cuban military and security personnel[9]
  • 2 civilians[10]

Injured:

On 3 January 2026, the United States launched military strikes on Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.[12][13] The operation, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve,[14][15] began around 2 a.m. local time, when explosions were observed.[16] The United States Armed Forces bombed infrastructure across northern Venezuela to suppress air defenses as an apprehension force attacked Maduro's residence in Caracas.[17][18] Maduro and Flores were flown to New York City by US forces.[19][20]

The United States government announced that Maduro and Flores had been indicted on several charges related to narcoterrorism.[21][22] Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty to the charges in a Manhattan federal court on 5 January 2026.[23][24] US president Donald Trump and his administration justified the operation as a law-enforcement action, with military support, that the president has "inherent constitutional authority" to undertake.[25]

Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodríguez denounced the capture as a kidnapping.[26] Venezuelan officials said at least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed during the attack.[27] The Cuban government said that 32 members of the Cuban military and intelligence agencies were killed.[28][9] Officials in the United Nations (UN), the US, and other countries,[a][29] as well as international law experts said the raid violated the UN Charter and Venezuela's sovereignty.[30][31][32] Other reactions around the world included celebrations by the Venezuelan diaspora and protests against the attack.[33][34]

Trump stated that the US would "run" Venezuela until there was a transition of power,[35][36] but these claims were contradicted by Rodríguez,[37] and also retracted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.[38] Trump and his administration made clear that access to Venezuelan oil was a core reason for the action.[b] The Venezuelan government remained in place, with Rodríguez sworn in as acting president on 5 January 2026.[39]

Background

Main article: Proposed United States invasion of Venezuela

Political, economic and international

Venezuela has faced an economic crisis since the oil glut of the 2010s, due to its export-dependent economy.[40] Nicolás Maduro has been criticized for authoritarian rule since succeeding Hugo Chávez as President of Venezuela in 2013. His victory in the 2018 Venezuelan presidential election was disputed and 45 countries did not accept the results, causing a presidential crisis.[41] For years, the US government has pressured Maduro.[42] The Obama, Biden and Trump administrations imposed sanctions on Venezuela, worsening its economic crisis in an effort to pressure its government.[43]

As far back as 2020, Trump has sought to prosecute Maduro on narco-terrorism charges.[44] In May 2020, a failed attempt by Venezuelan dissidents and American mercenaries to overthrow Maduro had the support of the Trump Administration, according to Jordan Goudreau.[45] At a 2023 press conference, Trump said, "Venezuela was about to collapse. We would have taken over it ... [and] kept all that oil."[46] Maduro was declared the winner of the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election by the government-controlled National Electoral Council, but the result was described as fraudulent by international observers who also found statistical improbabilities in the results.[47][48][49][50] The opposition showed evidence that its candidate, Edmundo González, had won a majority, matching the results of pre-election opinion polls.[51][52] The Venezuelan government issued an arrest warrant for González, who left the country and was granted asylum in Spain.[53] In January 2025, the Biden administration recognized González as Venezuela's legitimate president-elect.[54]

Cilia Flores is a Venezuelan lawyer and politician who rose to power after she represented Hugo Chávez.[55] Following the 1992 coup attempt, Chávez was imprisoned until Flores helped secure his release from prison in 1994.[56] She was an influential part of Chavez' movement Chavismo, even when keeping a low public profile.[57] In 2000, one year after Chavez became president of Venezuela, Flores was voted into the National Assembly.[58] After becoming president of the National Assembly in 2006, she banned journalists from the legislative chamber, and was criticized for appointing dozens of relatives to public positions in Venezuela.[59] She was the Attorney General of Venezuela from 2012 to 2013.[60] Having known Maduro since the 1990s, the two married in 2013.[61] Maduro, rather than describing her as the First Lady, has used the term "primera combatiente" or "First Combatant" of the revolution.[62] US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers arrested two of her nephews in a Haitian sting operation, and they were sentenced on drug conspiracy charges but released in a 2022 prisoner swap.[63] Flores has been sanctioned by the United States, Canada, Panama, and Columbia for allegations of corruption and undermining democracy.[64]

Oil and mineral resources

See also: History of U.S. involvement in Venezuela's petroleum industry, History of the Venezuelan oil industry, Oil reserves in Venezuela, and Oil war
President Trump expressed interest in controlling Venezuela's oil, saying "we're in the oil business, ... we'll be selling oil".[65] Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world.[66]

Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves, estimated at 17% of the global total, or 300 billion barrels.[67] By December 2025, the US began a maritime blockade, intercepting tankers carrying Venezuelan crude.[68] President Trump explicitly suggested that seized oil could be treated as a US asset, asserting the willingness to sell it or add it to the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve.[69]

The 2025–2026 operations are seen by the Trump administration as serving the triple goals of crippling Maduro, disrupting drug trade routes, and getting access to Venezuelan oil.[70] Following the raid, Trump's press conference made clear that oil was a core motivation for the operations against Venezuela.[b] Citing Venezuela's oil restructurations of 1976 and 2007, Trump, Stephen Miller, and others claimed that Venezuela had stolen oil from US companies.[74][75][76][77]

The Trump administration also expressed interest in Venezuela's large deposits of gold and rare earth minerals. Some experts noted that the Maduro government had previously attempted to offer the US access to these minerals in a failed attempt to stave off military action, with the ongoing operations marking a return to "resource imperialism".[78]

Indictment of Maduro

Main article: United States v. Maduro et al.
See also: Cocaine § United States, Illegal drug trade in Venezuela, and United States strikes on alleged drug traffickers during Operation Southern Spear

The United States accused Maduro of electoral fraud and presiding over a "narco-state".[79] In March 2020, during Trump's first term, the United States Justice Department indicted Maduro on cocaine-trafficking conspiracy charges, which Maduro denied.[80] In January and July 2025, Trump respectively designated two Venezuelan drug gangs, the Tren de Aragua and the Cartel of the Suns, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), and alleged that the latter was led by Maduro. Maduro denied being involved in cartel leadership and characterized the designations as an attempt to use the war on drugs for regime change.[51][81][80][82] Some Latin American crime experts have described the Cartel of the Suns as more of a general network of Venezuelan government and military corruption than as an organized group. Also in July 2025, a secret order instructed the US military to use force against cartels listed as terrorist organizations.[83][80]

United States military buildup

Main article: United States military buildup in the Caribbean during Operation Southern Spear
See also: United States strikes on alleged drug traffickers during Operation Southern Spear § Land targets in Venezuela

In August 2025, the United States began a military buildup in the southern Caribbean, deploying warships and military personnel.[84][85] The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) sent a team into Venezuela that began tracking Maduro's movements,[86] using a source close to the Venezuelan president. Plans were made for the capture of Maduro, months in advance. The Delta Force and other participants in the operation erected a mockup of the safe house in which Maduro was believed to be hiding, described by Trump as a "very highly guarded ... fortress".[6] At the same time, a circle of Venezuelan officials centered on Rodríguez and her brother Jorge privately outlined a roadmap for post-Maduro Venezuela, in which Rodríguez would act as figurehead and exiled general Miguel Rodríguez Torres would lead a "transitional government", dubbed "Madurismo without Maduro"; in return, Venezuela would welcome US investors and gradually loosen ties to US rivals such as Iran and Russia. The Venezuelan proposals were made to US envoy Richard Grenell through Qatari channels; the Trump administration reportedly rejected the overtures.[87] In September, the United States Southern Command began conducting military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea, alleging some were trafficking drugs on behalf of Venezuela.[88][89][90]

In November 2025, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado promised to open Venezuela's oil and gas reserves during a business meeting in Miami attended by Trump, and the Trump administration engaged in secret talks with Maduro's government about its oil reserves.[91] In December 2025, this escalated to include seizures of oil tankers carrying Venezuelan crude, with the Coast Guard's Deployable Specialized Forces (DSF) conducting the tactical boardings in coordination with Department of Defense assets.[91][92][93] These seizures formed part of the broader blockade preceding the January 2026 operation.[93][94] The US also launched covert operations in Venezuela under the directive of the CIA in late December.[95] On 2 January 2026, Trump announced that the US military would conduct strikes inside Venezuela.[96]

In the weeks preceding the operation, Trinidad and Tobago signed an agreement with the US to allow US military access to its airports.[97] General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a 3 January press conference that the US military had spent months planning and rehearsing the operation, with forces positioned and ready by early December.[18] In late December, the US escalated its military efforts against Venezuela onto land, including striking a remote northern port reportedly used by Tren de Aragua for smuggling. At that time, Maduro rejected an offer from the US to go into exile in Turkey. According to The New York Times, Maduro's public displays downplaying the seriousness of the American threats in the weeks before the operation, such as through public dancing on a stage to electronic music sampling one of his speeches in which Maduro said "No crazy war", were a factor in Trump deciding to begin the operation.[98]

Strikes

Clockwise from top:

According to Caine, Trump gave the order to proceed at 23:46 VET (22:46 EST) on 2 January.[18][99][100][101] The administration did not notify the United States Congress in advance of the strikes, saying they had concerns that this could endanger the mission.[102][103] According to Semafor, The New York Times and The Washington Post knew about the strikes before they were carried out.[104] At least seven explosions were reported at around 02:00 VET (01:00 EST) on 3 January, and low-flying aircraft were seen,[105] predominantly in La Guaira, Higuerote, Meseta de Mamo, Baruta, El Hatillo, Charallave, and Carmen de Uria, most of which are in or near the capital city Caracas.[16]

The operation involved 150 aircraft,[31] which were from the United States Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.[2] They included airplanes (Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor,[106] Lockheed Martin F-35A/C Lightning II,[106] Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet,[106] Boeing EA-18G Growler,[106] Grumman E-2D Hawkeye,[107] Rockwell B-1B Lancer[107]) and helicopters (Boeing CH-47F and MH-47G Chinooks,[108] Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion, Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, Bell UH-1Y Venom, Bell AH-1Z Viper, Boeing AH-64E Apache, Boeing MH-6M Little Bird, Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk and MH-60M DAP[108]), refueling tankers, electronic-warfare (EW) planes,[6] other support aircraft, and numerous unmanned aerial vehicles (including the Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel).[109][106] Trump said the United States "had a fighter jet for every possible situation".[6]

Map of the US strikes on Venezuela

The operation reportedly included the usage of one-way attack drones, which is believed to be the first such operational usage by the US military.[110] Most of the explosions targeted antennas and active military bases.[111] Early reports suggested that the explosions may have occurred at Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base (La Carlota) and Fort Tiuna, two military installations in Caracas.[112] Large explosions were also reported at Higuerote Airport, on the Venezuelan coast.[111][113] Helicopters from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment carried Delta Force soldiers into Caracas with air cover provided by the fighters and bombers. One helicopter was damaged by Venezuelan ground defenses but continued on its mission.[2] Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) personnel, including the Hostage Rescue Team, accompanied the military to formally arrest Maduro at his compound.[7][8]

The strikes lasted half an hour. Smoke was seen rising from one military hangar in a Caracas base, while another was left unpowered.[105] The strikes happened under the cover of darkness as a result of both the timing of the operation and the US military's disruption of power in the city of Caracas.[114] Multiple shipping containers were destroyed and damaged in the La Guaira port strikes.[115] Satellite imagery from Vantor showed at least five destroyed warehouses, burned vehicles, and a blown-up security post.[116][117] An aircraft, believed to be a Beechcraft Baron, and a Buk-M2E surface-to-air missile system were destroyed at Higuerote Airport.[118] The Venezuelan government said that Maduro declared a national state of emergency after the explosions began.[119] The Venezuelan government promised to defend against US military actions which it accused of seeking regime change. It described them as "imperialist aggression" and called for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to be convened.[120]

Capture of Maduro

Map
Map of Caracas and Fort Tiuna where Maduro and Flores were captured[121]

At 05:21 Venezuelan Standard Time (VET) or 04:21 Eastern Standard Time (ET),[122][123] Donald Trump announced that Maduro and Flores had been captured and flown out of the country.[c] The capture was undertaken by the US Army's Delta Force,[2] with on-the-ground intelligence provided by the CIA.[6] Trump posted a photograph on his Truth Social account of Maduro on board USS Iwo Jima,[126] showing him blindfolded, with soundproof headphones and a gray Nike sweatsuit, holding a plastic water bottle.[127] According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Maduro was arrested and would face criminal charges in the US.[115]

Nahum Fernández [es], leader of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, said Maduro and Flores were captured at their home at Fort Tiuna.[121] Delcy Rodríguez confirmed that both Maduro and Flores were missing and demanded confirmation they were alive via an audio message on state television.[128][129] According to Reuters sources, Rodríguez was in Russia on 3 January 2026.[130] Other reports indicated that Rodríguez was in Caracas.[131]

Shortly before 18:00 VET (17:00 EST), the airplane carrying Maduro and Flores landed at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York.[132] He was seen walking off the jet, surrounded by federal agents, before entering a hangar. He was then flown by helicopter to the Westside Heliport in Manhattan, New York City. He was taken by an armored convoy to a local Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) field office where he was processed before ultimately being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center.[117][133]

Main article: United States v. Maduro et al.
See also: Transnational crime
Maduro with Drug Enforcement Administration agents shortly after his arrival in New York

Hours after the capture, the United States attorney general Pam Bondi announced that Maduro and Flores had been indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges related to "narcoterrorism".[134] The indictment listed the charges as narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.[134][135] The amended indictment did not refer to the Cartel of the Suns as an organized group as previously alleged by the US, but instead as a corrupt patronage system, which aligns with experts' descriptions of its operations.[136]

Maduro and his wife were arraigned in a Manhattan federal court on 5 January 2026.[137][138] Before pleading, Maduro said: "I am the president of Venezuela, I consider myself a prisoner of war. I was captured at my home in Caracas."[139] Both pleaded not guilty to numerous drug trafficking charges. US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, a Bill Clinton appointee, ordered for Maduro to remain held until at least a 17 March hearing.[137]

Casualties

First responders in La Guaira after the attack

Venezuelan defense minister Vladimir Padrino López said that US combat helicopters fired rockets and missiles in urban areas and that officials were working to gather information on the number of fatalities and injuries.[140] The New York Times reported on 3 January 2026 that an anonymous Venezuelan official said at least 40 people, including civilians and military personnel, were killed in the attack,[141] updated to 80 on 4 January, "according to a senior Venezuelan official".[28]

Trump indicated that Cuban forces were involved in the operation, stating: "You know, a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday."[142][143] The government of Cuba reported that 32 Cubans were killed in Venezuela, all members of armed forces and intelligence services.[9][144] Independent Venezuelan journalistic reports confirmed that the attack resulted in 25 deaths, and another 8 as yet unconfirmed, mostly among members of the presidential guard, with two civilian deaths.[145][146] On 6 January, fifty-five military deaths were confirmed: the victims were 32 Cubans and 23 Venezuelans. Both the countries released on the same day the identities of the killed soldiers.[147]

Also on 6 January, military forces posted a video on social media in honor of 24 soldiers killed during the attack.[27] Attorney General Tarek William Saab indicated that dozens of military personnel and civilians were killed and the total number is still under investigation.[27] A day later, Diosdado Cabello said that 100 persons died during the bombing.[148]

In Catia La Mar, strikes hit a three-story civilian apartment complex, killing one person, seriously injuring another, and destroying the exterior wall.[31][149][150][141] A Colombian citizen was reported as a civilian fatality in El Hatillo. The US had been bombing nearby telecommunications antennas, according to the victim's relative.[151][152] According to the Department of Defense, seven US soldiers were injured and expected to survive. The soldiers suffered shrapnel and gunfire wounds.[11] Acting president Delcy Rodríguez declared seven days of mourning for the soldiers killed during the attack.[153]

Aftermath

President Trump addresses the nation on the airstrikes against Venezuela on 3 January 2026.

The government formerly led by Maduro remained in place.[154][155] Vice President Delcy Rodríguez described Maduro as Venezuela's "only president" and called for calm and unity to defend the country amid what she called his "kidnapping". She stated that Venezuela would "never again be a colony of any empire".[156][157][158] On 3 January 2026, the Supreme Tribunal of Justice ordered Rodríguez to assume the presidency in the absence of Maduro.[159] The Venezuelan military announced it would recognize Rodríguez as acting president and called for a return to normalcy.[160] Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president of Venezuela on 5 January 2026 by her brother and president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez.[39]

The US Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice to airmen on 3 January 2026 prohibiting US aircraft from operating within Venezuelan airspace, citing "ongoing military activity".[161][162] The US Embassy in Caracas issued a shelter-in-place order from its relocated operations in Colombia.[163] The southern area of Caracas reportedly lost power.[164] Republican Senator Mike Lee said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio "anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in US custody."[165] He also said Maduro was expected to go on trial in the US.[165][166]

External videos
Maduro perp walk at New York City Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters
video icon X / @PaulDMauro

At a press conference on 3 January 2026, Trump stated: "We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition".[167][168] He indicated that the US might send troops to Venezuela as part of this.[169] Trump also said that Rubio had made contact with Rodríguez and that she allegedly told Rubio, "We'll do whatever you need", and that she was gracious but "really doesn't have a choice";[170] Trump further opined that Rodríguez was "essentially willing to do what we think is necessary" to revive Venezuela,[171] marking a shift in the administration's stance compared to months prior, when the US excluded any settlement with Rodríguez.[87] Media outlets noted Rodríguez's statements contradicted Trump's.[155][169] Influenced by a CIA analysis,[172] Trump also said that María Corina Machado, the leader of the opposition and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, did not have the necessary support or respect in the country to govern.[169][173] The relationships between Machado and the Trump administration as well as Venezuelan civil society had been deteriorating for months beforehand;[174] according to The Washington Post, quoting two sources "close to the White House", Machado had committed the "ultimate sin" in Trump's eyes by accepting the prize instead of turning it down and passing it to him.[175][176] Machado confirmed on 6 January that she had no contact with Donald Trump since October 2025 when she was announced as the laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize, while voicing discontent with Trump's decision to back Rodríguez, saying she was "nothing like a moderate" and that the US expected her to take steps toward democracy.[177]

Trump characterized the action as an application of the Monroe Doctrine, which he styled as the "Donroe Doctrine",[178] and added that "American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again."[179][180] Trump further stated that US oil companies would "go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country", and that the US was prepared to launch a second, much larger attack. He also expressed openness to a US occupation of Venezuela,[169] stating it would not cost the US anything because it would be reimbursed through revenue from Venezuela's oil reserves.[181] On 7 January, Trump stated that US efforts to revitalize Venezuela could take "much longer" than a year, adding that the Venezuelan authorities were doing "everything that we feel is necessary".[182] Regarding the reward the US government offered for information leading to Maduro's capture, Rubio added that nobody will be receiving it. Rubio said "I guess we save $50 million" to which Trump replied "Don't let anybody claim it. Nobody deserves it but us."[183]

"Venezuela unilaterally seized and stole American oil, American assets and American platforms, costing us billions and billions of dollars. They did this a while ago, but we never had a president that did anything about it. They took all of our property—it was our property. We built it. And we never had a president that decided to do anything about it. Instead, they fought wars that were 10,000 miles away. We built Venezuela oil industry with American talent, drive and skill. And the socialist regime stole it from us during those previous administrations, and they stole it through force. This constituted one of the largest thefts of American property in the history of our country."

President Trump, CNN transcripts[184]

On 4 January 2026, Marco Rubio retracted Trump's comments of the day before, saying the US would not govern Venezuela, but would continue to enforce the existing oil quarantine in order to pressure Venezuela for policy changes.[38] Rubio also affirmed that the US did not officially recognize Rodríguez's presidency, despite Trump's avowal that he would work with Rodríguez.[185] According to The New York Times, Vice President Rodríguez's economic record of increasing her country's oil production and stabilizing its economy despite harsher US sanctions in recent years and her reputation among Venezuelan and foreign business leaders as a technocrat, had earned the respect of American officials.[98] For her part, Rodríguez conveyed an offer to collaborate with US officials "within the framework of international law". Of Rodríguez, Trump said that "she's cooperating", threatened her if she did not, and maintained that he would demand "total access" by US oil interests.[186] According to the Financial Times, Delcy Rodríguez's brother Jorge Rodríguez had held talks with the United States government in 2025 to have his sister lead a post-Maduro transitional government, though those talks had included Maduro being allowed to go into exile instead of being captured.[187]

In a television interview with ABC News, Rubio thanked news organizations who had received leaks about the operation before it took place for not reporting on it. According to Semafor, The New York Times and The Washington Post had received information about the attack but did not report on it in order to not endanger the lives of US personnel involved in the operation. The acknowledgment of the media withholding information about the operation came in lieu of defense secretary Pete Hegseth imposing strict restrictions on Pentagon reporters due to a mistrust of journalists' abilities to withhold militarily sensitive information from the public.[188][104]

On 5 January 2026, the Venezuelan government issued an emergency order to police to arrest anyone who supported the US attack[189] and mobilized colectivos (pro-government paramilitaries) who established roadblocks and searched cars and people. Fourteen journalists were detained, but 13 of them were later released.[190] On 6 January, gunfire broke out in Caracas as the ministry of communication announced that police fired upon one of their own military drones "flying without permission" but that the drone suffered no damage.[191] On 7 January, Trump announced an agreement by Venezuela to deliver a few months' worth of oil to the US, intimating that other steps, such as the freeing of political detainees and a role for the exiled opposition, might be next. However, President Rodríguez denied the existence of a deal, saying "no external agent" was dictating her decisions.[192] Meanwhile, opposition head Machado dubbed Rodríguez "one of the main architects... of repression", saying everyone was familiar with her record; she also insisted that she "absolutely" qualified for the leadership of the country and lauded Trump's "leadership and courage" in taking out Maduro.[193]

On 8 January, Jorge Rodríguez announced the release of an important number of political prisoners as a "gesture" by the government.[194] Among the prisoners released was Venezuelan-Spanish activist Rocío San Miguel, who was detained since February 2024.[195] The same day, the U.S. Senate voted 52 to 47 to approve a war resolution limiting Trump's powers to send troops to invade Venezuela.[196]

Reactions and response

Venezuela

Clockwise from the top:
  • Vice President Rodríguez leads a meeting at Miraflores Palace following the US strikes in Venezuela, on 3 January 2026
  • Rodríguez leads the 757th Council of Ministers meeting on 4 January 2026
  • The Supreme Tribunal of Justice order Rodríguez to become the acting head of state

Before Maduro's capture, the Venezuelan government said it rejected and denounced the military aggression,[197][120][100][198] and issued a public statement blaming the US government for the strikes, which it attributed to a plan to seize Venezuelan resources, particularly oil reserves.[199][200] Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López stated that the attacks were illegal.[117] He also said that Venezuela would resist foreign troops[201] and that the government had declared a "state of external commotion", a type of state of emergency, following "Maduro's orders".[202]

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez stated that Venezuela "will never again be anyone's colony – neither of old empires, nor of new empires, nor of empires in decline". She argued that the "war on drugs" was a pretext, claiming the United States' true objective was regime change and control of the country's "energy, mineral and natural resources".[169] Rodríguez also referred to the US attack on Venezuela as "Zionist".[203]

Unitary Platform politician María Corina Machado published a statement from exile, saying that "what had to happen" for the opposition to take up the mandate they claimed from the 2024 presidential election "is happening".[204] She also said the presidency should be assumed by Edmundo González, who received a majority of the vote in the 2024 presidential election, according to international observers and election-watchers.[205][206][207] González said the opposition was ready to "rebuild our nation" and that the next few hours would be "decisive".[208]

United States

According to Trump, the US would "run" Venezuela until there is a "safe, proper and judicious transition", which suggests a US occupation of Venezuela as reported by The New York Times. Trump went on to say that the US and US companies would seize Venezuelan oil and sell it to other countries.[209] Trump said the US would be "very strongly involved" in the Venezuelan oil industry,[32] and that US oil companies would invest billions of dollars in the energy sector of the country.[210] Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said "We are going to get American companies in there" to invest in the Venezuelan oil industry, resulting in "access to additional wealth and resources" for the US.[211][209][79] The government also indicated that American oil companies would have to invest in rebuilding Venezuelan oil infrastructure as a prerequisite for being compensated for previous asset seizures by the Venezuelan government since the first nationalization nearly 50 years ago.[212]

Vice President JD Vance said the operation was justified as Maduro was a wanted fugitive in the US. He also declared that "the stolen oil must be returned".[213] Chairwoman Lisa McClain of the House Republican Conference called Maduro a "narcoterrorist" and said that "Trump didn't look the other way; he acted."[214] After initially expressing uncertainty about the justification of US actions, Republican senator Mike Lee later said they "likely" fell under the president's Article II powers to protect against "actual or imminent attack".[215][105]

Democratic senator Brian Schatz, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned against any US military involvement in Venezuela, saying that the United States has "no vital national interests in Venezuela to justify war".[215] Democratic senator Ruben Gallego said "this war is illegal".[216][217] Democratic senator Tim Kaine condemned the actions and called on Congress to support his resolution to block the use of the armed forces against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress.[102] Senator Bernie Sanders also condemned the strikes, citing a risk of global instability and accusing Trump of bypassing Congress to get the country into war.[218][219] Former vice president Kamala Harris criticized the strikes.[220] The mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, said he called Trump earlier that day to express his opposition to the strikes.[209]

In a 3 January 2026 editorial, The New York Times editorial board condemned the attack as "dangerous and illegal", describing it as an act of "latter-day imperialism" which lacked "any semblance of international legitimacy, valid legal authority or domestic endorsement". Comparing the attack to interventions in Libya, the war in Afghanistan, and US involvement in Nicaragua, it warned of the "potential for chaos in Venezuela", including violence from paramilitary groups such as the Venezuelan colectivos or the Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN), which operates in western Venezuela.[221]

Threats and claims to other countries

Trump set his sights on a number of countries in the following days.[222] Trump signaled an eagerness to apply pressure on Colombia, saying a similar operation to halt cocaine trafficking there may be considered. Trump also criticized Colombia's president Gustavo Petro, saying he "likes making cocaine and selling it to the US" and would not stay in power much longer. Trump had recently sanctioned the Colombian leader for his alleged reluctance to combat drug trafficking. Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement opposing Trump's remarks, calling them "an undue interference" in domestic politics.[223][224] Trump also threatened Mexico and Cuba, saying the two nations needed to do more to earn US favor, but said the latter might "fall" without US interference; he also expressed hope that Mexico would act on its own.[225] Trump also warned that Iran "would be hit very hard" if more demonstrators were killed during the ongoing protests in the country.[226]

Trump renewed his talk of annexing Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, with CNBC noting that this prompted more serious concerns in the wake of Maduro's capture.[227] The US already operates a military base in Greenland,[228] Pituffik Space Base, and Denmark has indicated its openness to a heightened US military presence there; Politico reported that Trump has appeared uninterested in anything less than a full US takeover.[229] Hours after the strikes, Katie Miller (wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller) posted a picture of a Greenland in the colors of the American flag with the caption "SOON" on X, prompting Denmark's ambassador to the US to reply: "we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark" and "Just a friendly reminder about the US and the Kingdom of Denmark: We are close allies and should continue to work together as such."[230] Trump emphasized the acquisition of Greenland by the US "from the standpoint of national security".[226]

In a 5 January interview, Stephen Miller asked "by what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland?",[231] and said it was both the formal position of the US government[232] and obvious from a security perspective that Greenland should be part of the US.[231] Asked repeatedly whether he would rule out taking Greenland by force,[233] he refused but said that such questions are moot, "Nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland."[227] The following day, the leaders of NATO members France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom expressed their support for Denmark in a joint statement, stating that "Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations", stressed they were keen on Arctic security but this had to be achieved by NATO allies collectively, and called for upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders;[232] hours later,[232] White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that acquiring Greenland was "a national security priority of the United States", "vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region", and added: "The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the US military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal."[234] Rubio emphasized that any acquisition of Greenland by the US would be negotiated rather than resort to military force, saying Trump's threats were mainly rhetorical and an effort to push Denmark into approving a US-friendly deal.[235]

International

Main article: International reactions to the 2026 United States strikes in Venezuela

Following the strikes, Venezuela's neighbors acted to contain fallout. Colombian president Gustavo Petro ordered the mobilization of security forces along the Colombia–Venezuela border in anticipation of a mass influx of Venezuelan refugees.[236][237] On 5 January 2026, Petro warned that he would "take up arms" for his country if necessary after the US threatened him and his government, stating that any similar interventions in Colombia would have a response.[238]

Police in Trinidad and Tobago, which hosts the largest per-capita population of Venezuelan refugees and migrants,[239] cordoned off key areas of the capital, Port of Spain.[240] The government of Trinidad and Tobago, which has hosted US military personnel and vessels amid its recent buildup in the Caribbean Sea, stated that it did not participate in the attack.[241] The government of Guyana, whose ongoing border dispute with Venezuela heated up in 2023–2024, had a muted response but were broadly supportive of the removal of Maduro. Guyanese president Irfaan Ali announced that the country's security forces were "fully mobilised" to deal with potential refugees and an increase in instability along the border.[242] The Cuban government declared two days of national mourning on 5 and 6 January 2026 for its soldiers killed in the attacks.[243]

UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that US actions had "worrying implications for the region", "constitute[d] a dangerous precedent", and worried "that the rules of international law have not been respected".[244] He called on all Venezuelan actors to engage in an inclusive and democratic dialogue, stating "I welcome and am ready to support all efforts aimed at assisting Venezuelans in finding a peaceful way forward".[245] At the request of China, Colombia, and Russia, the UNSC convened on 5 January 2026 to discuss the situation.[246][247] Representatives of Russia and China called for the immediate release of President Maduro while the US representative rejected characterizations of US actions as military aggression, describing the operation as a targeted law enforcement measure to arrest an indicted fugitive.[248]

The attack was condemned by other countries, including Brazil,[249] Chile,[250] China,[251] France,[252] Iran,[253] Mexico,[254] North Korea,[255] Russia,[256] Slovakia,[257] South Africa,[258] and Spain.[249] Government leaders in Argentina, France,[259] Germany,[259] Israel,[260] Peru,[261] and Ukraine praised the developments.[262] French President Emmanuel Macron initially expressed joy, declaring on social media that "Maduro is a dictator, and his departure is good news for Venezuelans. He confiscated the freedom of his people and stole the 2024 elections." However, days later he nuanced his message, saying that the method employed by the Americans "does not have the support or approval" of France.[263] United Kingdom prime minister Keir Starmer said that he was happy for the fall of Maduro, and he would wait to know the facts before commenting further.[264] José Antonio Kast, the president-elect of Chile, stated that Maduro was not the legitimate president of Venezuela, had "destabilized Latin America", called his capture "great news", and remarked that work remained and the "governments of Latin America must ensure that the entire apparatus of the regime relinquishes power and is held accountable".[265] Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged de-escalation, stating that "[i]nternational law and the principles of the U.N. Charter must be respected"; this was echoed by European Union (EU) foreign policy chief and European Commission vice-president Kaja Kallas.[266][267] The governments of Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Uruguay, and the outgoing administration in Chile issued a joint statement rejecting the US action and expressed their concern saying that it could "constitute an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security and endanger the civilian population".[268]

The Federal Council of Switzerland decided to freeze any asset held in Switzerland by Nicolás Maduro[269]

Protests and celebrations

Clockwise from top:
  • Demonstration in Times Square against the attack
  • Demonstrators outside of Nicolás Maduro's arraignment in New York City gathering in support of Maduro's capture
  • Venezuelans in Santiago, Chile, celebrating Maduro's capture
  • Venezuelans in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, protesting against US involvement

Demonstrations both supporting and opposing Maduro's presidency occurred in Caracas.[270] CNN reported that some Venezuelans were celebrating while others were skeptical of Trump's motives and condemned the capture of Maduro as a "kidnapping".[33] Demonstrations against Maduro's capture occurred in Caracas, with demonstrators holding portraits of Maduro and pro-Maduro and pro-Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (PSUV) banners.[271] PSUV called for citizens to demand the release of Maduro and Flores.[271]

In the United States, hundreds of people gathered in New York City's Times Square to protest against the operation, with people chanting "Hands off Venezuela" and holding up signs that stated "US Out" and "No Blood for Oil".[272][34] Outside of New York, hundreds of people in different cities gathered to voice opposition to the strikes.[d]

Venezuelan migrants abroad celebrated the capture of Maduro in Doral, Florida, where the largest population of Venezuelans in the US live,[285] and in Latin America and Spain, including the cities of Buenos Aires, Lima, Madrid, Quito, and Santiago.[286][287][288][289] Videos from the Colombian border city of Cúcuta showed crowds filling the streets on the night of 3 January 2026, dancing to music and chanting slogans like "virtue" and "a free Venezuela".[33]

Financial markets

Oil prices did not experience a surge, which had been normal with previous conflicts in oil-producing regions; prices increased 1% as of 5 January 2026. The reason is believed to be that Venezuela only represents 1% of the global oil supply and high oil production by other producers, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil. The stock prices of companies that could become involved in Venezuela without spending money, such as oilfield service companies SLB and Halliburton, and refiners Valero Energy and Marathon Petroleum, surged on 5 January 2026. Some oil companies also saw increases, such as ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips.[290][291] Bonds issued by the Venezuelan government and the state oil company PDVSA surged by 30%. Venezuela's bonds went into default in 2017 and doubled in price during the escalating tensions in 2025.[292]

Polling

In October, before the strikes, a poll by AtlasIntel showed that approximately 64% of Venezuelans abroad support U.S. military intervention to depose Maduro, compared with 34% within Venezuela.[293] In December, a poll by Datanalisis found that 55% of Venezuelans opposed foreign military intervention while 23% supported it.[294]

After the strikes, a poll by Reuters surveying 1,248 adults in the United States found that 33% of Americans approved of the military action, while 34% did not; 65% of Republicans supported the action compared to 11% of Democrats, and 72% of Americans were concerned that the US would get too involved in Venezuela, including 54% of Republicans.[295] The same poll showed that Trump approval ratings rose to 42% after the attack, the highest rating since October 2025, when his approval rating was 39%.[295]

Analysis

Political

International Crisis Group (ICG) analyst Elizabeth Dickinson disputed the success of the operation, noting that the Maduro regime appeared largely intact, with figures characterized as "hardliners" by Dickinson, such as Diosdado Cabello, occupying key posts such as the ministries of defense and the interior. Dickinson concluded that "removing Maduro did not necessarily change the fundamental equation of control", adding that the government has withstood sanctions by rewarding its allies with access to scarce resources.[296] Another ICG analyst, Phil Gunson cautioned anti-Maduro forces among the Venezuelan diaspora, reporting from Caracas that "There's no dancing in the streets here".[297] Months prior, Trump had previously denied seeking a change of power in Venezuela, saying he was targeting regime-aligned cartels rather than Maduro himself.[298] Trump's evident willingness to work with Rodríguez was criticized by Venezuelan opposition sectors.[171]

Carrie Filipetti, member of the Vandenberg Coalition think tank and former State Department official during the first Trump administration, believes that the US should focus on "turn[ing] back to the democratically-elected leadership" in Venezuela to ensure both American and Venezuelan security. She explains that the Venezuelan opposition, led by Maria Corina Machado, "have the inroads" and "connections to the military" to create a "successful, smooth transition" and make sure "this doesn't devolve into chaos".[299] Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) specialist Clayton Seigle said oil companies sought stability in Venezuela above all else, adding that the outlook for US interests in the country remained uncertain. Another CSIS expert, Christopher Hernandez-Roy, said Trump's reluctance to engage in full regime change was driven by fear of chaos, noting that, aside from Maduro's removal, the current regime remained unchanged.[300]

American political analyst David Rothkopf described President Trump's conduct as the "Putinization of US foreign policy".[301] Analysts Ryan C. Berg and Alexander B. Gray stated that the action showed a robust commitment to Trump's 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS) and a desire to increase preeminence in the Western Hemisphere, in turn signalling a "global reestablishment of deterrence" to countries such as China, alluding to the latter's investments in Venezuela. Atlantic Council Counterterrorism Project head Alex Plitsas urged an orderly transition, warning that instability in Venezuela could lead to political fragmentation and criminal violence involving colectivo gangs; Berg elaborated that any systemic change would likely be lengthy, while reinforcing the Trump administration's "America First" agenda.[302][303]

Indian political analyst Brahma Chellaney argued that while the legal framing (drug trafficking charges) resembles the 1989 invasion of Panama and the seizure of Manuel Noriega, the actual methodology and strategic narrative align more closely with the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[304] Douglas Farah, a national security consultant and president of IBI Consultants, compared the US invasion of Panama to the current geopolitical situation in Venezuela, warning that although the Panama operation was a relatively swift military victory, occupying Venezuela would present significantly greater challenges.[305] Professor Sultan Barakat, an expert from Qatar's Hamad Bin Khalifa University, argued that the US actions in Venezuela have set a dangerous precedent that could influence China's approach to Taiwan. He also warned that this precedent could potentially encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to adopt a more aggressive stance toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[306]

Legality

International law experts argued that the operation violated international law. In the United States, it falls into a legal gray area.[307] On 3 January 2026, United Nations Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric issued a statement that said the Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres, was "deeply alarmed by the recent escalation in Venezuela" and that United States' military action "has potential worrying implications for the region".[308] Lawyer Geoffrey Robertson stated that the strike on Venezuela was contrary to Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and qualifies as a crime of aggression under international law. Elvira Domínguez-Redondo, professor of international law at Kingston University, also stated the strike was an act of aggression and that it could only have been lawful if it had authorization by a United Nations Security Council resolution, or was justified as "self-defence", but she added that there was "no evidence whatsoever" to support either condition.[32]

Ben Saul, a UN special rapporteur and professor of international law, condemned "the US's illegal aggression against Venezuela and the illegal abduction of its leader and his wife" and called on Trump to be investigated and impeached.[309][310] Professor of international law Michael N. Schmitt, law professor Ryan Goodman and Tess Bridgeman concluded that the operation against Venezuela "amounts to a severe breach of foundational principles of international law".[311] Professor of law Ziyad Motala described the "intervention in Venezuela to abduct President Nicolás Maduro" as "international vandalism, plain and unadorned".[312]

United Nations experts described Trump's actions as constituting an "international crime of aggression", adding that these actions "represent a grave, manifest and deliberate violation of the most fundamental principles of international law, set a dangerous precedent, and risk destabilising the entire region and the world".[313][314]

Oil infrastructure

Venezuela's hyperinflation in the mid-2010s negatively impacted revenue from oil exports which magnified the decline of the industry

Experts estimated that some 303 billion barrels of oil, or about 17% of the world's reserves, were located in Venezuela.[315][316] Much of it is ultra-heavy crude, a dense, viscous, and high-sulfur type likened to a "semi-solid tar".[317][318][319] Many US refineries along the Gulf Coast process this type of crude oil from Canada and Mexico to make diesel, jet fuel, asphalt, and elements of petrochemicals.[320][321][322][323]

Venezuela's oil industry had been in decline since Hugo Chávez's wave of expropriations,[319][324]: 2–3 [325] during which former oil contracts were shifted to joint ventures with the state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) and new fiscal rules were imposed.[317][324]: 2, 4–5 [326] Legal instability and other risks drove away investors, which Venezuela could not compensate for because of its overreliance on PDVSA's "inefficient operations, economic instability, discretionary policies, and poor investor protection",[324]: 8–9 [326] worsened by US sanctions on the company since 2017.[324]: 7  In this time, the industry's oil infrastructure declined,[317][319][327] and China increased cheap imports from Venezuela.[328]

Analysts, experts, and oil industry officials believed reconstruction could cost billions of dollars and take two to seven years or more,[e] requiring risky investment and a lengthy process of creating contracts.[f] Experts also said that US companies' refining capability could threaten China's presence in the Venezuelan oil industry.[321][328]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Eritrea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and Spain
  2. ^ a b Attributed to multiple sources:[71][72][70][73]
  3. ^ Attributed to multiple sources:[124][125][122]
  4. ^ Attributed to multiple sources:[273][274][275][276][277][278][279][280][281][282][283][284]
  5. ^ Attributed to multiple sources:[319][329][330][331]
  6. ^ Attributed to multiple sources:[332][333][334][335]

References

  1. ^ "Trump Administration makes an example of Maduro, will 'run' Venezuela for now". World Tribune. 3 January 2026. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026. U.S. special forces team arrived at Maduro's compound at 2:01 local time in Caracas...were onboard U.S. aircraft over the water at 3:29 a.m. (ET) and transported to the USS Iwo Jima
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Schogol, Jeff; Slayton, Nicholas (3 January 2026). "Delta Force soldiers carried out raid to capture Maduro". Task & Purpose. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b Holliday, Shelby; Paris, Costas; Seligman, Lara (3 January 2026). "Special Operations Forces Led Maduro Extraction". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b Rogoway, Tyler; Altman, Howard (3 January 2026). "U.S. Has Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (Updated)". The War Zone.
  5. ^ a b Miller, Maggie (7 January 2026). "Venezuela strike marks a turning point for US cyber warfare". Politico. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d e Ali, Idrees; Banco, Erin; Holland, Steve; Stewart, Phil (4 January 2026). "Mock house, CIA source and Special Forces: The US operation to capture Maduro". Reuters. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  7. ^ a b c "Live Updates: Removed Venezuelan leader Maduro makes first appearance in U.S. court after capture". PBS Newshour. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026. Patel said the FBI's hostage rescue team, a tactical unit, was embedded with the U.S. forces in the mission to capture Maduro.
  8. ^ a b c Barnes, Julian E.; Pager, Tyler; Schmitt, Eric (3 January 2026). "Inside 'Operation Absolute Resolve,' the U.S. Effort to Capture Maduro". The New York Times. The military was accompanied by an F.B.I. hostage negotiator in case Mr. Maduro had locked himself in a safe room or refused to surrender.
  9. ^ a b c Rasheed, Zaheena (4 January 2026). "Cuba says 32 Cubans killed during US raids on Venezuela". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  10. ^ Rascius, Brendan (6 January 2026). "Death toll from US mission to capture Nicolas Maduro rises". The Independent. Retrieved 7 January 2026. ... at least 32 Cuban fighters, 23 Venezuelan soldiers and two civilians, according to the BBC, citing local media
  11. ^ a b Garcia Cano, Regina; Madhani, Aamer; Janetsky, Megan. "Trump says US to get 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela at market price". Associated Press. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  12. ^ Garcia Cano, Regina; Toropin, Konstantin; Tucker, Eric (3 January 2026). "US plans to 'run' Venezuela and tap its oil reserves, Trump says, after operation to oust Maduro". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  13. ^ Martinez, Luis (3 January 2026). "'What he ate': Inside the meticulously planned operation to capture Maduro". ABC News. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  14. ^ Caine, Daniel (5 January 2026). General Caine gives detailed breakdown of the U.S. attack on Venezuela: 0.00-0.03/4, 0.06-0.10, 0:50-1:09, 6:20-29. YouTube.
  15. ^ Sutherland, Callum (5 January 2026). "Who Is Cilia Flores? What to Know About Maduro's Wife Amid Fall of Venezuela's First Couple". Time. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro - His wife, Cilia Flores
  16. ^ a b "Medios de Estados Unidos afirman que Donald Trump ordenó ataques "en sitios dentro de Venezuela"" [U.S. media say Donald Trump ordered attacks "on sites within Venezuela"]. NTN24 (in Spanish). 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  17. ^ "Venezuela Live Updates: Maduro Arrives in N.Y.; Trump Says U.S. Will 'Run' Venezuela". The New York Times. 3 January 2026. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  18. ^ a b c Peniston, Bradley (3 January 2026). "How 'Absolute Resolve' harnessed 150 aircraft and more to launch a regime change in Venezuela". Defense One. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  19. ^ "How the US attack on Venezuela, abduction of Maduro unfolded". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  20. ^ Hubbard, Kaia; Suarez Sang, Lucia I. (3 January 2026). "Maduro and his wife arrive in New York to face narco-terrorism charges". CBS News. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  21. ^ Sugden, Joanna (3 January 2026). "U.S. Attorney General Says Maduro, Wife Indicted in New York". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  22. ^ Rosen, Jacob; Schecter, Anna; Quinn, Melissa (3 January 2026). "Maduro indicted on federal drug-trafficking and weapons charges". CBS News. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  23. ^ "Live updates: Maduro pleads not guilty in US court appearance". Associated Press. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  24. ^ Soriano, Ashley N. (4 January 2025). "Nicolás Maduro's first court date set". NewsNation. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  25. ^ Blake, Aaron (3 January 2026). "Analysis: Trump attacked Venezuela and arrested its president. Is that legal?". CNN. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  26. ^ "Venezuela's Supreme Court orders Delcy Rodriguez become interim president". Reuters. Caracas, Venezuela. 4 January 2025. Archived from the original on 4 January 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  27. ^ a b c Garcia Cano, Regina; Madhani, Aamer; Janetsky, Megan (6 January 2026). "At Least 24 Venezuelan Security Officers Killed in US Operation to Capture Maduro, Officials Say". Military.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  28. ^ a b "Live Updates: Venezuela Projects Defiance as Rubio Says U.S. Will Exert 'Leverage' on Its Leaders". The New York Times.
  29. ^ "U.S. Assault on Venezuela Condemned by Allies and Adversaries Alike at U.N. Security Council". Democracy Now!. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  30. ^ Jacobs, Jennifer; Walsh, Joe; LaPorta, James; Reals, Tucker (3 January 2026). "U.S. Launches military strikes on Venezuela, Trump says Maduro captured and flown out of the country". CBS News. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  31. ^ a b c "Live Updates: U.S. Captures Venezuelan Leader, Trump Says". The New York Times. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  32. ^ a b c McKelvie, Geraldine (3 January 2026). "Is there any legal justification for the US attack on Venezuela?". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  33. ^ a b c Macaya, Melissa (4 January 2026). "Maduro, wife in US custody after Trump vows to 'run' Venezuela – live updates". CNN. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  34. ^ a b McGinnis, Cory (3 January 2026). "Times Square erupts in protest over US strikes on Venezuela". WPIX-TV. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  35. ^ Peniston, Bradley; Tucker, Patrick (3 January 2026). "The US will 'run' Venezuela for now, Trump says after armed assault on capital". Defense One. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  36. ^ Chapuis, Nicolas (4 January 2026). "With Maduro abduction, Trump flexes muscles and sends world a message". Le Monde. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  37. ^ Griffiths, Robbie d (4 January 2026). "Venezuela opposition in limbo as the world wonders who is in charge". NPR. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  38. ^ a b Garcia Cano, Regina; Lee, Matthew; Weissert, Will; Tucker, Eric (4 January 2026). "Rubio says US won't govern Venezuela but will press for changes through oil blockade". Associated Press.
  39. ^ a b "Delcy Rodriguez formally sworn in as Venezuela's interim president". Reuters. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  40. ^ Weisbrot, Mark (1 May 2010). "Venezuela loses nerve". Le Monde diplomatique. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  41. ^ Sharma, Yashraj (4 January 2026). "Who is Nicolas Maduro?". Al Jazeera English.
  42. ^ Wolfe, Jonathan (3 January 2026). "How Tensions Escalated Between the U.S. and Venezuela".
  43. ^ Ferrer, Elias (13 September 2023). "US sanctions on Venezuela: tool for democracy or siege tactic?". Le Monde diplomatique. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  44. ^ Pozzebon, Stefano; McCarthy, Simone; Cancryn, Adam (3 January 2026). "The US has captured Venezuelan leader Maduro. Here's what to know". CNN. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  45. ^ Delgado, Antonio Maria; Hall, Kevin G.; Dasgupta, Shirsho; Wieder, Ben (7 November 2025). "Venezuela coup plotters met at Trump Doral. Central figure says U.S. officials knew of plan". Miami Herald.
  46. ^ Robin, Josh (3 January 2026). "As tensions build between the U.S. and Venezuela, a look at the historical backdrop and what may come next". Spectrum News. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  47. ^ Kerry, Frances, ed. (4 January 2026). "Nicolas Maduro's tight grip on Venezuela shaken loose by Trump blitz". Reuters. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  48. ^ "El burdo cálculo matemático en la información oficial que aumenta las sospechas sobre la manipulación de la elección en Venezuela". infobae (in European Spanish). 30 July 2024. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  49. ^ "La probablidad de que resultados del CNE sean ciertos es de 1 entre 100 millones, dice matemático". Diario Las Americas (in Spanish). 6 October 2024. Archived from the original on 6 October 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  50. ^ "Suspicious data pattern in recent Venezuelan election". Statistical Modeling, Causal Inference, and Social Science. Archived from the original on 7 December 2025. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  51. ^ a b Rhoden-Paul, André; Moench, Mallory (3 January 2026). "What we know about US strikes on Venezuela". BBC News. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  52. ^ Wells, Ione; Mackintosh, Thomas (3 August 2024). "Blinken: Overwhelming evidence Venezuela opposition won election". BBC News.
  53. ^ "Edmundo González abandonó Venezuela tras solicitar asilo político en España" [Edmundo González left Venezuela after requesting political asylum in Spain]. El Diario de Caracas (in Spanish). 7 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  54. ^ Turkewitz, Julie; Glatsky, Genevieve (6 January 2025). "Recognized by U.S. as Venezuela's President-Elect, Edmundo González Meets With Biden". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  55. ^ Clark, Emily (6 January 2026). "Who is Cilia Flores? The woman by Maduro's side when US troops arrived". ABC News.
  56. ^ Limehouse, Jonathan (3 January 2026). "Who is Cilia Flores? Nicolás Maduro's wife named in US indictment". USA Today.
  57. ^ Multiple sources:
  58. ^ "Who is Cilia Flores, Venezuela's 'first combatant'?". Al Jazeera English. 5 January 2026.
  59. ^ Gonzalo, Zegarra (3 January 2026). "Who is Cilia Flores, Maduro's wife and 'first combatant' of Venezuelan socialism?". CNN. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  60. ^ Multiple sources:
  61. ^ Moleiro, Alonso (5 January 2026). "Cilia Flores, the power behind the Venezuelan throne". El País.
  62. ^ Multiple sources:
  63. ^ Bennett, Tom (4 January 2026). "Who is Cilia Flores, Venezuela's first lady captured by the US?". BBC.
  64. ^ Gibbs, Stephen (6 January 2026). "Who is Cilia Flores? Maduro's wife and Venezuela's Lady Macbeth". The Times.
  65. ^ Watson, Kathryn (3 January 2026). "Trump says U.S. is "in the oil business" and will sell Venezuelan oil". CBS News. 1:13. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  66. ^ Goldman, David (3 January 2026). "Trump says US is taking control of Venezuela's oil reserves. Here's what it means". CNN. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  67. ^ Elliott, Rebecca F.; Gamio, Lazaro (5 December 2025). "Lots of Oil, Little Production: What to Know About Venezuelan Energy". The New York Times.
  68. ^ "Trump Targets Maduro With Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Tanker". The New York Times. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  69. ^ "Trump's claims to Venezuelan oil are part of broader 'resource imperialism', experts say". The Guardian. 24 December 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  70. ^ a b Troianovski, Anton (3 January 2026). "Trump Long Wanted to 'Take the Oil.' He Says He'll Do It in Venezuela". The New York Times.
  71. ^ Bennhold, Katrin (4 January 2026). "Venezuela, Democracy and Oil". The New York Times.
  72. ^ Rogero, Tiago (5 January 2026). "Trump's focus on Venezuelan oil reinforces claim action was never about 'war on drugs'". The Guardian.
  73. ^ Hennigan, William J. (4 January 2026). "So It Was Always About the Oil". The New York Times.
  74. ^ Roy, Diana; Cheatham, Amelia (31 July 2024). "Venezuela: The Rise and Fall of a Petrostate". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  75. ^ Golding, Marcus (26 December 2025). "The Theft That Never Was: Inside Venezuela's 1976 Oil Takeover". Caracas Chronicles. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  76. ^ Raji, Tobi; Sands, Leo (20 December 2025). "Trump says Venezuela stole U.S. oil, land and assets. Here's the history". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  77. ^ Romero, Simon (17 December 2025). "Trump's Claim That Venezuela 'Stole' U.S. Oil Fields Touches Nationalist Nerve". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  78. ^ "The Dangerous Precedent of Trump's War for Oil". The New York Times. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  79. ^ a b Cawthorne, Andrew; Satter, Raphael; Reid, Tim (3 January 2026). "Trump says Venezuela's Maduro captured after strikes". Reuters. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  80. ^ a b c Barros Leal, Isabela Espadas; Glatsky, Genevieve (3 January 2026). "A Timeline of Rising Tension Between the U.S. and Venezuela". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  81. ^ Wells, Ione; Mackintosh, Thomas (3 August 2024). "Blinken: Overwhelming evidence Venezuela opposition won election". BBC.
  82. ^ Lotz, Avery (22 January 2025). "Executive order list: What executive orders did President Trump sign and what to know". Axios. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  83. ^ Venezuela Investigative Unit (1 August 2025). "US Sanctions Mischaracterize Venezuela's Cartel of the Suns". InSight Crime. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  84. ^ Holland, Steve (18 August 2025). "US deploys warships near Venezuela to combat drug threats, sources say". Reuters. Archived from the original on 21 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  85. ^ "Multiple explosions heard in Venezuela capital Caracas amid tensions with US". Hindustan Times. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  86. ^ Nicholas, Peter; Tsirkin, Julie; Dixon, Matt; Alba, Monica; Kube, Courtney (4 January 2026). "A CIA team, steel doors and a fateful phone call: How the U.S. captured Maduro in Venezuela". NBC News. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  87. ^ a b Delgado, Antonio María (16 October 2025). "Exclusive: Venezuelan leaders offered U.S. a path to stay in power without Maduro". Miami Herald. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  88. ^ Garcia Cano, Regina (7 November 2025). "What a reporter found when she investigated US military strikes on Venezuelan drug boats". Associated Press. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  89. ^ Garcia Cano, Regina (7 November 2025). "Trump has accused boat crews of being narco-terrorists. The truth, AP found, is more nuanced". Associated Press. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  90. ^ Pozzebon, Stefano (1 September 2025). "Trump claims Venezuela's Maduro is a drug-trafficking threat to the US. Does the data back him up?". CNN. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  91. ^ a b Wong, Edward; Barnes, Julian E. (16 December 2025). "Venezuela's Oil Is a Focus of Trump's Campaign Against Maduro". ABC News. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  92. ^ "Exclusive: US Coast Guard lacks forces to seize Venezuela-linked tanker for now, sources say". Reuters. 24 December 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  93. ^ a b "Trump Administration Oil Tanker Seizures Are Meant to Force Maduro Out, Officials Say". The New York Times. 22 December 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  94. ^ Finley, Ben; Toropin, Konstantin; Garcia Cano, Regina (3 January 2026). "A timeline of U.S. military escalation against Venezuela leading to Maduro's capture". PBS News Hour. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  95. ^ Sérvulo González, Jesús (30 December 2025). "Trump escalates conflict with Venezuela with the start of covert operations". El País. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  96. ^ Cancryn, Adam (2 January 2026). "Trump says strikes on targets inside Venezuela to start "soon"". CNN. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  97. ^ Gibbs, Anselm (15 December 2025). "Trinidad and Tobago to open its airports to US military". Military Times. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  98. ^ a b Kurmanaev, Anatoly; Pager, Tyler; Romero, Simon; Turkewitz, Julie (4 January 2026). "How Trump Fixed On a Maduro Loyalist as Venezuela's New Leader". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  99. ^ Walsh, Joe (3 January 2026). "Explosions were heard in Caracas". CBS News. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  100. ^ a b "Explosions heard as smoke rises in Venezuelan capital Caracas". BBC News. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  101. ^ "US carrying out strikes in Venezuela, US official says". Reuters. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  102. ^ a b Scott, Rachel; Pecorin, Allison; Peller, Lauren; Parkinson, John; O'Brie, Jay (3 January 2026). "Republicans largely back Trump on Venezuela action, Democrats decry it as unjustified". ABC News. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  103. ^ Evans, Gareth (3 January 2026). "Spies, drones and blowtorches: How the US captured Maduro". BBC News. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  104. ^ a b Bauder, David (6 January 2026). "Trump administration thanks the media for keeping quiet before the strike that captured Maduro". PBS News. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  105. ^ a b c Garcia Cano, Regina; Toropin, Konstantin (3 January 2026). "US strikes Venezuela and says its leader, Maduro, has been captured and flown out of the country". Associated Press. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  106. ^ a b c d e Trevithick, Joseph (3 January 2026). "RQ-170 Sentinel Stealth Drone Supported Maduro Capture Mission". The War Zone. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  107. ^ a b Newdick, Thomas (3 January 2026). "Destruction Seen At Caracas Base That Was A Focus Of The U.S. Military Operation". The War Zone. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  108. ^ a b Rogoway, Tyler; Newdick, Thomas (5 January 2026). "This Is What The Night Stalkers' MH-60M Direct Action Penetrator Brought To The Venezuelan Op". The War Zone. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  109. ^ Greet, Kai (3 January 2026). "U.S. Launches Military Operations in Venezuela, Maduro 'Captured'". theaviationist.com. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  110. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (5 January 2026). "Did The U.S. Use Kamikaze Drones To Strike Venezuela?". The War Zone. Retrieved 6 January 2026. Multiple video clips offer strong evidence that kamikaze drones were among the capabilities the U.S. military brought to bear during the operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro over the weekend. This may have been the first real-world use of a new slate of U.S. long-range one-way attack drones and loitering munitions.
  111. ^ a b "Explosiones, sobrevuelos y apagones eléctricos en varias zonas militares de Venezuela" [Explosions, overflights, and power outages reported in several military zones of Venezuela], NTN24 (in Spanish), 3 January 2026, retrieved 3 January 2026
  112. ^ Delgado, Antonio María (3 January 2026). "Multiple explosions reported overnight in Caracas; Maduro government remains silent". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  113. ^ BNO News Live [@BNODesk] (3 January 2026). "WATCH: Large explosions at Higuerote Airport, about 87 km (54 mi) east of Caracas" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 January 2026 – via Twitter.
  114. ^ Kinnard, Meg; Price, Michelle L. (3 January 2026). "How the US captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro". Associated Press. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  115. ^ a b "Live updates: Multiple explosions rock Venezuelan capital Caracas". CNN. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  116. ^ Demarest, Colin (3 January 2026). "U.S. leveled military facilities in Maduro attack, satellite imagery reveals". Axios. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  117. ^ a b c "Live coverage: Venezuela's Maduro captured, U.S. officials say". NBC News. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  118. ^ "Incident Beechcraft Barron?, Saturday 3 January 2026". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  119. ^ Hawke, Jack (3 January 2026). "Maduro declares national emergency". ABC News. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  120. ^ a b Diaz, José; Walsh, Joe (3 January 2026). "Venezuela accuses U.S. of "very serious military aggression"". CBS News. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  121. ^ a b Lawless, Jill; Santana, Rebecca (3 January 2026). "What we know about a US strike that captured Venezuela's Maduro and what comes next". Associated Press. Washington, D.C., United States. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  122. ^ a b Trump, Donald J. (3 January 2026). "(Untitled)". Truth Social. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  123. ^ Petras, George; Beard, Stephen; Loehrke, Janet; Sullivan, Shawn (3 January 2026). "Mapping US attacks in Venezuela: Timeline of Nicolás Maduro's capture". USA Today. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  124. ^ Langford, Antonia; Mendelson, Allegra (3 January 2026). "Maduro and wife charged with narco-terrorism". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  125. ^ Stavrou, Athena (3 January 2026). "Venezuela latest: Trump says President Maduro has been captured after huge airstrikes on Caracas". The Independent. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  126. ^ Walker, Josephine; Floyd, Lauren (3 January 2026). "Trump shares photo of Maduro after capture". Axios.
  127. ^ Keller, Erin; Woodward, Alex (3 January 2026). "Trump posts photo of handcuffed Maduro after Venezuelan president's capture". The Independent. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  128. ^ "Venezuela latest: Trump says US has 'captured' President Maduro in strikes on country – latest". BBC News. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  129. ^ BNO News Live [@BNODesk] (3 January 2026). "Breaking: Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez confirms Maduro and his wife are missing. Trump said they were captured" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 January 2026 – via Twitter.
  130. ^ "Venezuela vice president Rodriguez in Russia, four sources say". Reuters. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  131. ^ Phifer, Donica (3 January 2026). "Venezuela's VP throws cold water on Trump's solution for running the country". Axios.
  132. ^ Tucker, Emma (3 January 2026). "Maduro has arrived at a New York military base". CNN. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  133. ^ O'Connell, Oliver; Buschschlüter, Vanessa (3 January 2026). "Maduro to be taken to Brooklyn detention centre". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  134. ^ a b Jansen, Bart (3 January 2026). "Here are the charges against Nicolás Maduro after US capture". USA Today. USA Today Co. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  135. ^ Bergengruen, Vera (3 January 2026). "Maduro Faces Federal Drug-Trafficking Charges in U.S." The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  136. ^ Savage, Charlie (5 January 2026). "Justice Dept. Drops Claim That Venezuela's 'Cartel de los Soles' Is an Actual Group". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  137. ^ a b Nguyen, Thao; Cann, Christopher; Jansen, Bart; Palmer, Kathryn (5 January 2026). "'Not guilty' plea for deposed Venezuelan leader Maduro: live updates". USA Today. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  138. ^ Periera, Ivan; Kekatos, Mary; Haworth, Jon; Shalvey, Kevin (4 January 2026). "Venezuela live updates: Maduro to appear in federal court Monday on alleged drug charges". ABC News. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  139. ^ Kelly, Kieran; Shanagher, Lily; Zagon, Chanel (6 January 2026). "Maduro: I am a prisoner of war". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  140. ^ Rios, Michael (3 January 2026). "Venezuelan defense minister says US strikes hit urban areas and vows to resist "invasion"". CNN. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  141. ^ a b "Venezuelan Official Says at Least 40 People Were Killed in U.S. Attack". The New York Times. 3 January 2026.
  142. ^ Rodriguez, Andrea (5 January 2026). "Cuba says 32 Cuban officers were killed in US operation in Venezuela". ABC-7 Chicago. Associated Press. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  143. ^ "Maduro's elite bodyguard wiped out in US Delta Force's lightning strike". The Australian. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  144. ^ Franck, Mark (5 January 2026). "Cuba says 32 of its citizens killed in Maduro extraction". Reuters.
  145. ^ Flores, Jordan (6 January 2026) [4 January 2026]. "Fuentes independientes difunden cifra de fallecidos durante los bombardeos en Venezuela ante la falta de reportes oficiales" [Independent sources are disseminating figures on the number of deaths during the bombings in Venezuela due to the lack of official reports.]. El Diario de Caracas (in Spanish).
  146. ^ "Estos son los nombres de 17 víctimas que dejaron los bombardeos en Venezuela". Tal Cual (in Spanish). 4 January 2025.
  147. ^ "Venezuela y Cuba publican listas con 55 militares muertos en captura de Maduro por EEUU". El Nuevo Herald (in Spanish). 6 January 2025.
  148. ^ "Venezuela's interior minister says 100 people died in U.S. attack". Reuters. 8 January 2026.
  149. ^ "Venezuela Live Updates". The New York Times. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  150. ^ "Clearing bomb wreckage, Venezuelan mourns aunt killed in US raid". Radio France International. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  151. ^ "Ella era Yohana Rodríguez Sierra, la colombiana que murió en los bombardeos durante la captura de Nicolás Maduro por parte de EE. UU. en Venezuela". El Tiempo (Colombia) (in Spanish). 5 January 2025.
  152. ^ "Yohana Rodríguez Sierra, la cartagenera que perdió la vida en bombardeo a Venezuela" (in Spanish). El Universal (Cartagena). 4 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  153. ^ "Venezuela declares week of mourning for military killed in US attack". Reuters. 7 January 2026.
  154. ^ Kinosian, Sarah. "Maduro is out but his top allies still hold power in Venezuela". Reuters. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026.
  155. ^ a b Griffiths, Robbie (4 January 2026). "Venezuela opposition in limbo as the world wonders who is in charge". NPR. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  156. ^ Rodríguez, Delcy (3 January 2026), Yuleidys Hernández Toledo (ed.), ¡Urgente! El pueblo tiene claro que jamás volverá a ser esclavo ni colonia (in Spanish), event occurs at 9:20, Y el pueblo venezolano consciente, el pueblo venezolano con su fuego sagrado de la patria encendido, está indignado por lo que es el secuestro ilegal e ilegítimo del presidente y de la primera dama, primera combatienta Cilia Flores.
  157. ^ Rogero, Tiago (3 January 2026). "Venezuelan leader Maduro lands in New York after capture by US troops – live". The Guardian. The vice-president said the "Venezuelan people ... are outraged by the illegal and illegitimate kidnapping of the president and the first lady".
  158. ^ Walsh, Joe (3 January 2026). "Venezuelan officials condemn Maduro's capture, calling it a "kidnapping"". CBS News.
  159. ^ "Venezuela court orders Rodriguez as interim president". The Canberra Times. 4 January 2026. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  160. ^ "Trump warns Venezuela's interim president of 'big price' if she resists US". France 24. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  161. ^ @flightradar24 (3 January 2026). "Amid reports of explosions around Caracas, the US FAA issued a new NOTAM prohibiting US aircraft from operating at all altitudes within Venezuelan airspace as of 0600Z today, 3 Jan. Flightradar24 is not currently tracking any aircraft over Venezuela" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 January 2026 – via Twitter.
  162. ^ Vickers, Julian; Ryan, Fergus (3 January 2026). "Explosions hit Venezuelan capital Caracas". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  163. ^ "Security Alert: Venezuela: Explosions Reported; Shelter in Place". U.S. Embassy in Venezuela. 3 January 2026. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  164. ^ "Explosions heard in Venezuela capital, power outage in city – report". The Jerusalem Post. 3 January 2026. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  165. ^ a b Guldogan, Diyar (3 January 2026). "Venezuela's Maduro arrested to stand trial on criminal charges in US: Sen. Mike Lee". Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  166. ^ "U.S. launches military strikes on Venezuela, Trump says Maduro captured and flown out of the country". CBS News. 3 January 2026. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  167. ^ "Venezuela latest: Trump says US will 'run' Venezuela until 'safe transition can take place' - watch live". BBC News. 3 January 2026. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  168. ^ Cancryn, Adam (3 January 2026). "Trump says US will run Venezuela following Maduro's capture". CNN. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  169. ^ a b c d e Smith, David; Rogero, Tiago (3 January 2026). "Trump says US will 'run' Venezuela after ousting Maduro in military attack". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  170. ^ Jaramillo, Alejandra (3 January 2026). "Trump says US is working with Venezuelan vice president". CNN. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  171. ^ a b Saltman, Max; Freitas, Alessandra (3 January 2026). "Venezuela's opposition rejoiced at Maduro's abduction, but Trump doesn't seem interested in working with them". CNN. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  172. ^ Holland, Steve (6 January 2026). "CIA concludes regime loyalists best suited to lead Venezuela after Maduro, sources say". Reuters. Archived from the original on 6 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  173. ^ "Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro arrives in New York after capture by US forces". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  174. ^ Pager, Tyler; Kurmanaev, Anatoly; Barnes, Julian E. (5 December 2025). "Why Trump Refused to Back Venezuela's Machado: Fears of Chaos, and Fraying Ties". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 6 January 2026.
  175. ^ Taylor, Adam; Schmidt, Samantha; Allison, Natalie; DeYoung, Karen (5 January 2026). "U.S. plan to 'run' Venezuela clouded in confusion". The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  176. ^ "Why Trump snubbed Venezuela opposition leader Machado after she won Nobel Peace Prize". The Independent. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  177. ^ Ward, Jasper (6 January 2026). "Maduro opponent Machado vows to return to Venezuela, wants an election". Reuters.
  178. ^ Ward, Alexander (3 January 2026). "Removing Maduro Was 'Donroe Doctrine' in Action, Trump Says". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  179. ^ "Donald Trump wants to run Venezuela, and dominate the western hemisphere". The Economist. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  180. ^ "Venezuela could define Trump's legacy - and America's place in the world". BBC News. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  181. ^ Cawthorne, Andrew (3 January 2026). "Trump says US will 'run Venezuela' with revenue from oil reserves". The Independent. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  182. ^ Dakss, Brian (8 January 2026). "Trump: U.S. could oversee Venezuela for "much longer" than a year". CBS News. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  183. ^ Palmer, Kathryn; Jansen, Bart; Bagchi, Aysha; Nguyen, Thao; Cann, Christopher; Loria, Michael; Waddick, Karissa. "'Not guilty' plea for deposed Venezuelan leader Maduro". USA TODAY. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  184. ^ "Trump to Speak on Venezuela Strikes and Capture of President Maduro. Aired 11a-12p ET". CNN.
  185. ^ Goodwin, Grace Eliza (5 January 2026). "Trump warns new Venezuelan leader as Maduro set to appear in court". BBC News. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  186. ^ Lebowitz, Megan; Smith, Alexander (5 January 2026). "Trump says U.S. is 'in charge' of Venezuela and warns interim leader to cooperate". NBC News. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  187. ^ "The woman with Donald Trump's nod to lead Venezuela". Financial Times. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  188. ^ Bauder, David (6 January 2026). "A rare 'thank you' to the media from the Trump administration". Associated Press. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  189. ^ "Venezuela orders police to find, arrest anyone involved in supporting U.S. attack-decree". Reuters. 5 January 2025.
  190. ^ de los Ángeles Graterol, María; Carroll, Rory (6 January 2026). "Armed militias deployed in Venezuela as regime attempts to impose authority". The Guardian.
  191. ^ Regan, Helen. "Here's what happened overnight in Caracas". CNN. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  192. ^ Nicas, Jack; Victor, Daniel (7 January 2026). "Live Updates: Trump Says Venezuela Will Start Handing Over Some Oil to U.S." The New York Times. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  193. ^ Asiedu, Kwasi Gyamfi (7 January 2026). "Opposition leader Machado says she should be in charge of Venezuela". BBC News. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  194. ^ "Venezuela announces release of 'an important number' of political prisoners". The Washington Post. 8 January 2026. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  195. ^ "Venezuelan-Spanish rights activist first confirmed liberation in Venezuela prisoner release". Reuters. 8 January 2026.
  196. ^ Pecorin, Allison (8 January 2025). "Senate advances war powers resolution to rein in Trump on Venezuela". ABC News. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  197. ^ Baddar, Omar (3 January 2026). "Trump Embraces Big Oil and Empire After Kidnapping Venezuela's President" (Press release). Public Citizen. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via Common Dreams.
  198. ^ "Venezuela: U.S. Kidnaps Maduro, Trump Says "We Are Going to Run" Country". Democracy Now!. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  199. ^ "Régimen de Maduro señala a Estados Unidos de las explosiones en Caracas y otras partes de Venezuela" [Maduro Regime Blames United States for Explosions in Caracas and Other Parts of Venezuela]. NTN24 (in Spanish). 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026. Por medio de un comunicado, la dictadura venezolana aseveró que este ataque busca "apoderarse de los recursos estratégicos de Venezuela, en particular de su petróleo" [In a statement, the Venezuelan dictatorship asserted that this attack seeks to 'seize Venezuela's strategic resources, particularly its oil.']
  200. ^ "Venezuela says it rejects "military aggression" by the US". Reuters. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  201. ^ "Venezuela defense minister says will resist presence of foreign troops". Reuters. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  202. ^ Luciano, Lilia (3 January 2026). "Venezuelan defense minister says military is being deployed". CBS News. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  203. ^ "'Zionist attack:' Venezuela's acting gov't blames Israel for Maduro seizure". i24NEWS. 4 January 2026.
  204. ^ Walters, Joanna; Sedghi, Amy; Mackay, Hamish (3 January 2026). "Venezuelan leader Maduro lands in New York after capture by US troops – live". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  205. ^ Garcia Cano, Regina; Goodman, Joshua; Kastanis, Angeliki (2 August 2024). "AP review of Venezuela opposition-provided vote tallies casts doubt on government's election results". Associated Press. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  206. ^ Gómez Forero, Camilo (31 July 2024). "¿Por qué ver estos decimales ayudaría a hablar de un fraude en Venezuela?" [Why would seeing these decimals help to talk about fraud in Venezuela?]. El Espectador (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  207. ^ Applebaum, Anne (31 July 2024). "Venezuela's Dictator Can't Even Lie Well". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024. In the hours after the polls closed, much of the international media had refrained from stating the obvious. 'BREAKING:,' the Associated Press tweeted on Monday. 'Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro is declared the winner in the presidential election amid opposition claims of irregularities.' But by Tuesday morning, it was absolutely clear that the election was not merely irregular or tainted or disputed: The election had been stolen.
  208. ^ Magee, Caolán; Jamal, Urooba; Quillen, Stephen; Adler, Nils. "Updates: Maduro brought to New York after being seized by US in Venezuela". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  209. ^ a b c "Venezuela Live Updates: Trump Says U.S. Will 'Run the Country' After Capture of Maduro". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  210. ^ Kimball, Spencer (3 January 2026). "Trump says U.S. oil companies will invest billions of dollars in Venezuela after Maduro's overthrow". CNBC. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  211. ^ "Pete Hegseth: "President Trump sets the terms" on running Venezuela". CBS News. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  212. ^ Lefebvre, Ben; Colman, Zack; Bikales, James (3 January 2026). "Trump admin sends tough private message to oil companies on Venezuela". Politico. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  213. ^ "Trump Offered Venezuela's Maduro 'Multiple Off Ramps': Vance". Barron's. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  214. ^ McClain, Lisa [@RepLisaMcClain] (3 January 2026). "President Trump has cracked down on drug trafficking harder than any President in history. Congress backed him up with real action, like the HALT Fentanyl Act. So, let me put this simply: Maduro is a narco-terrorist. Period. His illegitimate regime floods our country with deadly drugs and Americans pay the price. President Trump didn't look the other way; he acted. That's what leadership looks like, and it's how you protect the American people" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026 – via Twitter.
  215. ^ a b "Live updates: Multiple explosions rock Venezuelan capital Caracas". CNN. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  216. ^ Gallego, Ruben [@RubenGallego] (3 January 2026). "Second unjustified war in my life time" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 January 2026 – via Twitter.
  217. ^ Jacobs, Jennifer; Walsh, Joe; LaPorta, James; Reals, Tucker (3 January 2026). "U.S. Launches military strikes on Venezuela, Trump says Maduro captured and flown out of the country". CBS News. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  218. ^ "Bernie Sanders condemns Trump's attack on Venezuela". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  219. ^ Sanders, Bernie. "NEWS: Statement of Sen. Bernie Sanders on Venezuela". Senator Bernie Sanders. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  220. ^ "Kamala Harris rips Trump over 'unlawful and unwise' Venezuela strike: 'The President is putting troops at risk...'". Hindustan Times. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  221. ^ "Trump's Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise". The New York Times. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  222. ^ McIntyre, Jamie (6 January 2026). "Trump State Department lays claim to the entire Western Hemisphere". Washington Examiner. Archived from the original on 6 January 2026.
  223. ^ "Trump says Colombia's leader won't be in charge for long". BBC News. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  224. ^ "Trump threatens military operation against Colombia, after Venezuela raid". Reuters. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  225. ^ Li, Zhou (5 January 2026). "Trump Ramps Up Incendiary Threats After Venezuela Strike". HuffPost. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  226. ^ a b Bennett, Tom (4 January 2026). "Which countries could be in Trump's sights after Venezuela?". BBC News. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  227. ^ a b Breuninger, Kevin (6 January 2026). "Trump weighs using U.S. military to acquire Greenland: White House". CNBC. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  228. ^ Stokols, Eli (6 January 2026). "Trump says his Greenland fixation is about national security. Europeans are skeptical". Politico. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  229. ^ Stokols, Eli (6 January 2026). "White House: Trump 'discussing a range of options' to take Greenland — including military force". Politico. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  230. ^ Calitri, Lydia (4 January 2026). "Denmark's prime minister says 'stop the threats' of U.S. annexing Greenland". NPR. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  231. ^ a b Khan, Mariam (7 January 2026). "US military is 'always an option' for Trump to acquire Greenland, White House official says". ABC News. Retrieved 8 January 2026. "The real question is, by what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland?" he said. "What is the basis of their territorial claim? What is their basis of having Greenland as a colony of Denmark?"
  232. ^ a b c Sheerin, Jude; Pomeroy, Gabriela (7 January 2026). "US discussing options to acquire Greenland including using military, White House says". BBC. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  233. ^ Cameron, Chris (6 January 2026). "Stephen Miller Asserts U.S. Has Right to Take Greenland". New York Times. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  234. ^ Bartholomew, Jem (7 January 2026). "First Thing: White House says using US military 'always an option' for acquiring Greenland". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  235. ^ Ward, Alexander; Seligman, Lara; Volz, Dustin (6 January 2025). "Rubio Tells Lawmakers Trump Aims to Buy Greenland, Downplays Military Action". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  236. ^ Cueto, José Carlos (3 January 2026). "Venezuela latest: Trump says US has 'captured' President Maduro in strikes on country - Whole region holds its breath as Colombian president deploys forces". BBC News. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  237. ^ Pannell, Alfie; Glade, Jim (3 January 2026). "Colombia braces with alarm after Maduro's removal in Venezuela by US". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  238. ^ Osgood, Brian. "Colombia's Petro says he is prepared to 'take up arms' amid US threats". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  239. ^ Herbert, Chinyere (8 November 2021). "More Venezuelans in Trinidad in the 21st century: A brief account and analysis of the first large-scale irregular migration of Venezuelans to Trinidad and Tobago in recent years". International Journal of Anthropology and Ethnology. 5 (1). doi:10.1186/s41257-021-00056-3.
  240. ^ De Souza, Janelle (3 January 2026). "Police take precautionary action after US military strike in Venezuela". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  241. ^ Rios, Michael (3 January 2026). "Trinidad and Tobago says it did not participate in US attack on Venezuela". CNN. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  242. ^ "Guyana silent on US capture of Maduro". Stabroek News. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  243. ^ "Cuba says 32 Cuban fighters killed in US raids on Venezuela". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  244. ^ "US actions in Venezuela 'constitute a dangerous precedent': Guterres". Peace and Security. United Nations News. 3 January 2026. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  245. ^ "UN chief Guterres raises concerns about instability in Venezuela, legality of US operation". Reuters. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  246. ^ "UN Security Council to meet Monday over US action in Venezuela". Reuters. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  247. ^ "Watch: UN Security Council holds emergency meeting on Venezuela". The Hill. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  248. ^ "Maduro seized, norms tested: Security Council divided as Venezuela crisis deepens". UNO. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  249. ^ a b "Spain and five Latin American countries reject US attack on Venezuela in joint communiqué". Euronews. 4 January 2026.
  250. ^ "Boric condena ataque de EE.UU. en Venezuela y llama a "buscar una salida pacífica a la crisis"". Emol (in Spanish). 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  251. ^ "Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on the U.S. Military Strikes on Venezuela" (Press release). Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 3 January 2026. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  252. ^ "EU urges 'restraint', respect for international law in Venezuela after Maduro capture". Radio France International. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026. France condemned the American operation, saying it undermined international law while no solution to the country's crisis can be imposed from the outside.
  253. ^ "Iran strongly condemns US attack on Venezuela". Iran International. 3 January 2026. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  254. ^ "Mexico Says Venezuela Strikes Breach U.N. Charter, International Law". The Wall Street Journal. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  255. ^ "(Lead) N. Korea 'strongly' denounces U.S. capture of Venezuela's Maduro". Yonhap. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  256. ^ "Russia Demands Release of Maduro After U.S. Military Strikes Venezuela". The Moscow Times. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  257. ^ "Slovakia's prime minister criticizes US military action in Venezuela". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  258. ^ "South Africa urges UN Security Council Session following unilateral military action in Venezuela" (Press release). Pretoria, South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation. 3 January 2026. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  259. ^ a b Schechner, Sam (3 January 2026). "France's Macron, Germany's Merz Laud Maduro's Ouster, Call for Caution". The Wall Street Journal.
  260. ^ Halpern, Sam (3 January 2026). "Israel commends US operation that led to capture of Venezuela's Maduro". The Jerusalem Post.
  261. ^ Astonitas, Ernesto (3 January 2026). ""Venezuela inicia una nueva era en democracia y libertad": José Jerí se pronuncia tras captura de Nicolás Maduro". rpp.pe. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  262. ^ Kramer, Andrew (4 January 2026). "Ukrainians Welcome a U.S. Victory in Venezuela, and Lament a Double Standard". The New York Times.
  263. ^ elDiario.es (5 January 2026). "Macron matiza sus primeras declaraciones sobre Venezuela y dice ahora que Francia no apoya ni aprueba el "método" empleado por EEUU". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  264. ^ Keenan, Claire (4 January 2026). "'Deeply shocked': World leaders react to US attack on Venezuela". BBC News. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  265. ^ "Kast dice que la detención de Maduro es 'una gran noticia': 'Desestabilizó Latinoamérica" [Kast says Maduro's arrest is "great news": "He destabilized Latin America"]. SWI swissinfo (in Spanish). 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026. English translation from en.as.com
  266. ^ Horowitz, Jason (3 January 2026). "Live Updates: U.S. Captures Venezuelan Leader, Trump Says". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  267. ^ Nicholls, Catherine; Stockwell, Billy (3 January 2026). "European leaders react to US strikes on Venezuela". CNN. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  268. ^ Fulton, Adam; Olivares, José; Walters, Joanna; Lowe, Yohannes; Hall, Rachel; Ratcliffe, Rebecca (4 January 2026). "'Extremely dangerous precedent' set by Trump's attack on Venezuela, six countries warn – live". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  269. ^ "Federal Council freezes any assets held in Switzerland by Nicolás Maduro". The portal of the Swiss government. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  270. ^ Goodwin, Grace Eliza; Vasquez, Cristobal; Bateman, Tom (4 January 2026). "Venezuelans react to US Maduro arrest with hope and uncertainty". BBC News. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  271. ^ a b Freitas, Alessandra (4 January 2026). "Maduro loyalists rally in Caracas to bolster support for ousted president". CNN. Archived from the original on 6 January 2026.
  272. ^ Wright, Terell. "In NYC, Some Protest U.S. Involvement in Venezuela". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  273. ^ Medina, Alika (4 January 2026). "Protesters gather in Albuquerque against US action in Venezuela". KOB. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  274. ^ Demir, Murat (3 January 2026). "Photos: Anchorage protests U.S. invasion of Venezuela". The Northern Light. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  275. ^ Piekos, Christian (4 January 2026). "More protests planned in Chicago area after US strikes Venezuela, captures President Nicolás Maduro". WLS-TV. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  276. ^ Leslie, Laura (3 January 2026). "Protesters gather in downtown Raleigh to condemn apparent US takeover of Venezuela". NC Newsline. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  277. ^ Abath, Jim (3 January 2026). "Huntsville group protests U.S. attack on Venezuela". WAAY-TV. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  278. ^ Summers, Jazlyn; Watkins, Chandler (4 January 2026). "Protests underway in Kansas City following capture of Venezuelan leader". KCTV. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  279. ^ "Protesters rally in D.C. against U.S. operation in Venezuela". The Washington Post. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  280. ^ Richelieu, Sydney (3 January 2026). "Protesters gather in Portland to oppose Venezuela operation". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  281. ^ Holter, Jake (3 January 2026). "'We're not going to stand for this': Multiple protests in Portland after US capture of Venezuelan president". KGW. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  282. ^ Myers, Doug (3 January 2026). "Protesters in Dallas join national call against U.S. military action in Venezuela". CBS News. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  283. ^ Gilman, Io Yeh (3 January 2026). "'Latin America isn't yours': S.F. protesters condemn Trump bombing of Venezuela, capture of Maduro". Mission Local. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  284. ^ Weber, Claire (3 January 2026). "Seattle protests U.S. military operation in Venezuela amid Maduro capture, strikes". KOMO-TV. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  285. ^ Candido, Sergio; Maugeri, Steve (3 January 2026). "Joy, tears and chants of "freedom" as Venezuelans in South Florida react to Nicolas Maduro's capture". CBS News. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  286. ^ "Venezuela diaspora celebrates Maduro's deposition, wonders what's next". Reuters. 3 December 2025.
  287. ^ "Diáspora festeja captura de Maduro, chavistas protestan" [Diaspora celebrates Maduro's capture, Chavistas protest]. Deutsche Welle (in Spanish). 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  288. ^ "Miles de venezolanos celebran en la Puerta del Sol de Madrid la captura de Maduro: 'Este Gobierno ya cayó'" [Thousands of Venezuelans celebrate the capture of Maduro in Madrid's Puerta del Sol: 'This government has fallen']. El País (in Spanish). 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  289. ^ "Cayó Maduro: el festejo de los venezolanos en Chile" [Maduro has fallen: Venezuelans in Chile celebrate]. Clarin (in Spanish). 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  290. ^ Keown, Callum; Salzman, Avi (5 January 2025). "Chevron, Exxon and SLB Stocks Are Surging but Oil Prices Are Hardly Moving. What's Up". Barron's. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  291. ^ "Oil prices fall after Donald Trump's Venezuela strikes". Financial Times. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  292. ^ Jones, Marc (5 January 2025). "Venezeula's bonds soar after US capture of President Maduro". Reuters. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  293. ^ Dubé, Ryan (2 January 2026). "Venezuelan Exiles Root for U.S. Military Action. Those Left Behind Oppose It". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  294. ^ "'The homeland is the homeland': Venezuelans brace for possible US attack". Al Jazeera English. 5 December 2025.
  295. ^ a b Lange, Jason (5 January 2026). "A third of Americans support US strike on Venezuela, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds". Reuters.
  296. ^ Ma, Jason (3 January 2026). "What happens next in Venezuela? The regime's foundation remains in place even after U.S. capture of Maduro, analyst says". Fortune. Fortune Media Group Holdings. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  297. ^ Padgett, Time (3 January 2026). "The Venezuelan diaspora believes Maduro's removal means regime removal. Not quite yet". WLRN-FM. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  298. ^ Schneid, Rebecca (6 September 2025). "Trump Denies the U.S. Is Seeking Regime Change in Venezuela Amid Military Build-Up". Time. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  299. ^ Bazail-Eimil, Eric (4 January 2026). "What a Former Trump Official Would Worry About in Venezuela". Politico. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026.
  300. ^ Resendiz, Julian (6 January 2026). "Trump chose stability over democracy in Venezuela, experts say". WGNO. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  301. ^ Borger, Julian (3 January 2026). "The 'Putinization' of US foreign policy has arrived in Venezuela". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 January 2026. Original article: Rothkopf, David (4 January 2026). "Trump's Illegal War Has the Most Sinister Inspiration You Can Imagine". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  302. ^ Berg, Ryan (3 January 2026). "Maduro Captured: What Comes Next for Venezuela?". Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  303. ^ "Experts react: The US just captured Maduro. What's next for Venezuela and the region?". Atlantic Council. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  304. ^ "Maduro's capture by US mirrors Iraq playbook not Noriega manhunt, says Brahma Chellaney". Business Today. 3 January 2026.
  305. ^ Langfitt, Frank (4 January 2026). "A tale of 2 U.S. interventions and why Venezuela is not Panama 2.0". NPR.
  306. ^ Jamal, Urooba (5 January 2026). "What the US did in Venezuela normalises power grabs: Expert". Al Jazeera English.
  307. ^ Epstein, Kayla (5 January 2026). "Trump's seizure of Maduro raises thorny legal questions". Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  308. ^ "US actions in Venezuela 'constitute a dangerous precedent': Guterres". 3 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  309. ^ "Venezuela decries 'cowardly kidnapping' as officials back Maduro". Al Jazeera English. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  310. ^ Phillips, Tom; Torres, Patricia; Christou, William (3 January 2026). "US has captured Venezuela's President Maduro and wife, says Trump". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  311. ^ Schmitt, Michael; Goodman, Ryan; Bridgeman, Tess (5 January 2026). "International Law and the U.S. Military and Law Enforcement Operations in Venezuela". Just Security. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  312. ^ Motala, Ziyad (4 January 2026). "We just witnessed power kidnapping the law". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  313. ^ "Trump administration claims it will 'dictate' policy to Venezuela". Al Jazeera English. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  314. ^ "UN experts condemn US aggression against Venezuela". OHCHR. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  315. ^ Yhip, Terrence M.; Alagheband, Brian (2024). "The Oil Future of Guyana". Contemporary Challenges for Caribbean Economies: Crucial Problems and Practical Solutions. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 389–427. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-57492-4_9. ISBN 978-3-031-57492-4.
  316. ^ "Venezuela's Deepening Oil Crisis Exposes Fragility Behind the World's Largest Reserves". Blooming Trade Data. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  317. ^ a b c "Venezuelan oil industry: world's largest reserves, decaying infrastructure". Reuters. 4 January 2026. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  318. ^ Kelso, Paul (4 January 2026). "Can Trump halt Venezuela's oil production decline?". Sky News. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  319. ^ a b c d Rapier, Robert (3 January 2026). "Venezuela, Maduro And The Long Shadow Of Oil Expropriation". Forbes. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  320. ^ Bousso, Ron (4 January 2026). "US oil refiners win, Chinese rivals lose in Trump's Venezuela strike". Reuters. London, United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  321. ^ a b Ambrose, Jillian (5 January 2026). "Dense, sticky and heavy: why Venezuelan crude oil appeals to US refineries". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  322. ^ "How much oil does the United States import (and why)?". American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  323. ^ "Oil and petroleum products explained: Oil imports and exports". Energy Information Administration. 19 January 2024. Archived from the original on 6 November 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  324. ^ a b c d Monaldi, Francisco; Hernández, Igor; La Rosa Reyes, José (2021). "The collapse of the Venezuelan oil industry: The role of above-ground risks limiting foreign investment". Resources Policy. 72 102116. Bibcode:2021RePol..7202116M. doi:10.1016/j.resourpol.2021.102116.
  325. ^ Crooks, Nathan; Hampton, Liz; Somasekhar, Arathy (4 January 2026). "No quick wins in tapping Venezuela's oil reserves". Reuters. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  326. ^ a b Rapier, Robert (7 May 2017). "How Venezuela Ruined Its Oil Industry". Forbes. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  327. ^ Crooks, Hampton & Somasekhar 2026.
  328. ^ a b Stevenson, Alexandra (5 January 2026). "China Needed Oil. Venezuela Needed Cash. Their Deal Faces a Turning Point". The New York Times. Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  329. ^ Crooks, Hampton & Somasekhar 2026
  330. ^ Nephew, Richard; Sternoff, Daniel; Palacios, Luisa (4 January 2026). "Q&A on US Actions in Venezuela" (Interview). Center on Global Energy Policy. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  331. ^ Funk, Josh (4 January 2026). "Experts say Trump's plan to seize and revitalize Venezuela's oil industry faces major hurdles". PBS News Hour. Associated Press. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  332. ^ Lefebvre, Ben; Colman, Zack; Bikales, James (3 January 2026). "Trump admin sends tough private message to oil companies on Venezuela". Politico. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  333. ^ Nephew, Sternoff & Palacios 2026
  334. ^ Funk 2026
  335. ^ Mitchell, Archie; Sherman, Natalie (5 January 2026). "Trump wants Venezuela's oil. Will his plan work?". BBC News. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2026 United States strikes in Venezuela.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2026_United_States_strikes_in_Venezuela&oldid=1331923233"