The US Takes Control of Venezuela After a Military Raid
President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the United States would take control of Venezuela and exploit its vast oil reserves following a military operation in which leftist leader Nicolas Maduro was removed from the country during a bombing raid in Caracas. This dramatic move came after special forces captured Maduro and his wife, while airstrikes targeted multiple locations in the capital city.
Trump did not provide specific details about what “running” Venezuela would entail, but he stated during a press conference in Florida: “We’re going to be running it with a group.” He added that cabinet officials present at the event would be involved in the management of the country. In a surprising twist, Trump also hinted at the potential deployment of U.S. troops in Venezuela, stating, “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground.”
Despite framing the operation as a law-enforcement action, Trump made it clear that regime change and access to Venezuela’s oil wealth were central objectives. He mentioned that major U.S. oil companies, described as the largest in the world, would invest billions of dollars to repair the country’s deteriorating infrastructure and increase oil production. “We’ll be selling large amounts of oil,” he said.
Trump shared a photo of Maduro in custody aboard a U.S. naval ship, wearing a blindfold, handcuffs, and what appeared to be noise-canceling ear muffs. Maduro and his wife were being transported to New York to face charges related to narcotics and terrorism.
Trump Dismisses Opposition Leader
US-backed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, expressed hope on social media that “the hour of freedom has arrived.” She called for her party’s candidate in the 2024 election, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, to assume the presidency immediately. However, Trump quickly dismissed any notion that Machado could become Venezuela’s new leader, claiming she lacks support and respect in the country. Instead, he suggested that Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s deputy, might be a more viable partner, stating that she is “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again.”
Trump emphasized that the U.S. presence in Venezuela is unlikely to be temporary. “We’re there now, but we’re going to stay until such time as the proper transition can take place.”
International Reactions and Concerns
The United Nations expressed deep concern that international law had not been respected during the operation. China, a long-time supporter of Maduro’s regime, strongly condemned the U.S. attack, while France warned that any solution for Venezuela must not be imposed from outside.
Blackout and Bombing
Venezuelans had anticipated attacks as U.S. forces, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, had been stationed off the coast for months. Around 2:00 am (0600 GMT), residents of Caracas awoke to explosions and the sound of military helicopters. Airstrikes hit a major military base and an airbase, among other targets, for nearly an hour, according to AFP journalists.
The bombing was only part of a larger plan to remove Maduro and bring him to the U.S. to face drug-related charges. Trump claimed the assault began with a partial blackout caused by U.S. “expertise.” General Dan Caine, the top U.S. military officer, confirmed that 150 aircraft participated in the operation, supporting troops who helicopter-in to capture Maduro with the help of months of intelligence on his daily routines, including “what he ate” and the pets he kept.
Maduro and his wife surrendered without resistance, and there were no U.S. casualties, according to the general.
Maria Eugenia Escobar, a 58-year-old resident of La Guaira near the heavily bombed main airport, told AFP that the blasts “lifted me out of bed, and I immediately thought, ‘God, the day has come.’” Within hours, Caracas fell eerily quiet, with police stationed outside public buildings and a smell of smoke lingering in the streets.
Shifting Justifications
The U.S. and many European governments have long refused to recognize Maduro’s legitimacy, accusing him of stealing elections in both 2018 and 2024. Maduro, who has been in power since 2013 after succeeding his leftist mentor Hugo Chavez, has consistently accused Trump of seeking regime change to gain control of Venezuela’s oil reserves.
Trump justified the operation by claiming that Venezuela is responsible for mass deaths caused by drugs in the U.S. However, he has provided various justifications for his aggressive policy toward Venezuela, sometimes focusing on illegal migration, narcotics trafficking, and the country’s oil industry.
Previously, Trump avoided openly calling for regime change, likely mindful of his nationalist political base’s reluctance to engage in foreign entanglements. Despite this, several members of Congress questioned the legality of the operation. However, Trump’s key ally, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, defended the move, calling it “decisive and justified.”
