US Forces Capture Nicolás Maduro as Washington Signals Interim Control of Venezuela
New York, USA : United States forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in a military operation in Caracas and transferred him to US custody, according to statements from President Donald Trump and senior officials. Trump said the United States would temporarily administer Venezuela until a transition of power, citing security and governance concerns. US authorities said Maduro and his wife face federal charges in New York, including narcotics and weapons related offences. The operation was conducted without congressional approval, prompting criticism from Democratic leaders, who demanded briefings and questioned legality. Several governments, including China, Mexico and Honduras, condemned the action as a violation of sovereignty and international law. European leaders expressed mixed responses, with some urging a peaceful transition. Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodríguez rejected US authority and called for Maduro’s release. Opposition figures welcomed the development according to opposition statements.
United States forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in a pre dawn military operation in Caracas and transferred him to US custody, according to statements from President Donald Trump and senior American officials. Maduro was later flown to New York, where US prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging him with offences including cocaine importation, weapons possession and conspiracy related to narcotics trafficking. His wife, Cilia Flores, faces related charges, according to court filings.
President Trump said the operation involved air, land and sea forces and followed months of intelligence work to locate the Venezuelan leader. Speaking from Florida, Trump described the mission as successful and said the United States would assume temporary administrative responsibility for Venezuela until a transition of power could be arranged. He stated that US officials were designating individuals to oversee governance during this interim period and confirmed that American military forces would remain in the country.
US defence officials said more than 150 aircraft participated in the operation, which involved disabling Venezuelan air defences to allow helicopters and ground forces to reach Maduro’s compound. According to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, US helicopters came under fire and responded with force. The Pentagon said a small number of US personnel were injured, with no fatalities reported. Maduro and his wife were transferred first to a US naval vessel before being flown to New York.
The White House said Maduro had been offered opportunities to step aside before the operation but declined. Secretary of state Marco Rubio said the intervention followed years of alleged criminal activity and repression by Maduro’s government. Trump argued that the action was necessary to prevent further regional instability and accused the Venezuelan leader of threatening US security interests.
The operation was not authorised by the US Congress, prompting criticism from senior Democratic lawmakers. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said Congress had not been briefed in advance and accused the administration of misleading the public. Democratic leaders called for immediate classified briefings and raised concerns about legality, oversight and the risk of prolonged military involvement. Some Republican figures also expressed reservations, arguing the intervention contradicted stated non interventionist principles.
International reaction was divided. China condemned the operation as a violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty, calling on Washington to respect the United Nations Charter. Mexico reiterated its constitutional stance against foreign intervention, while Honduras described the action as military aggression. The United Nations secretary general said the operation set a dangerous precedent and warned of potential consequences for regional stability.
European responses varied. France’s foreign minister said the use of force contravened international law, while President Emmanuel Macron called for a peaceful and democratic transition without directly criticising Washington. Germany said it was assessing the legal basis of the intervention. Italy described the action as a legitimate defensive measure, while European Commission officials warned against external management of sovereign states. The United Kingdom said it supported a transition in Venezuela but avoided stating whether international law had been breached.
Inside Venezuela, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez appeared on state television calling for Maduro’s release and rejecting any US authority over the country. She described the operation as barbaric and said Venezuela would not accept external control. Venezuelan defence and foreign ministry officials appeared alongside her, though the future structure of the government remains unclear.
Opposition figures reacted cautiously. María Corina Machado praised the removal of Maduro and called for Edmundo González, whom the opposition and several foreign governments regard as the winner of the 2024 election, to assume power. She urged the armed forces to recognise González as commander in chief. However, President Trump indicated that opposition leaders were not central to his interim governance plans.
Among the Venezuelan diaspora, reactions ranged from celebration to concern. Rallies were reported in several cities outside Venezuela, with participants welcoming Maduro’s removal but expressing uncertainty about the country’s future. Some Venezuelans inside the country reported stockpiling food amid fears of instability.
US authorities said Maduro will be formally arraigned at a later date in New York. The administration has not specified a timeline for the proposed political transition in Venezuela, while legal challenges and diplomatic fallout from the intervention continue to unfold.