The world woke up on January 3, 2026 to shockwaves far beyond Caracas. In an unprecedented and dramatic escalation, the United States launched a large‑scale military operation against Venezuela that culminated in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the operation on social media, saying American forces had struck targets across Venezuela and flown Maduro and his wife out of the country. This event marks one of the most significant confrontations between the two nations in decades. (CBS News)
In the early hours, residents of Caracas reported a series of explosions, low‑flying aircraft, and widespread fear as parts of the capital shook. As dawn broke, images and videos circulated on social media showing smoke rising over key military installations and power outages in parts of the city. U.S. officials describe the strike as “successful,” with no confirmed deaths among American troops, though the human cost among Venezuelans remains unclear. (The Times of India)
The U.S. government framed the strike as part of a long‑running effort to confront what it calls a narco‑terrorist regime. Washington has spent months building pressure, including maritime interdictions of alleged drug trafficking vessels, sanctions on Venezuelan oil sales, and naval deployments in the Caribbean Sea. In recent months, U.S. officials even offered a $50 million bounty for information leading to Maduro’s capture, alleging ties between his government and international drug networks — claims Maduro’s supporters vehemently deny. (Wikipedia)
Trump and other U.S. leaders say they intend to bring Maduro to the United States to face criminal charges, including narco‑terrorism and cocaine trafficking. Some American officials describe this as a new chapter in the “war on drugs,” while others see it as a bold — or reckless — break from traditional diplomacy. Whether or not the operation has explicit authorization from the U.S. Congress remains unclear, and legal experts have already raised questions about its legitimacy. (The Guardian)
Across Venezuela, the reaction was immediate and polarized. The Maduro government denounced the strikes as “criminal military aggression” and called on citizens to take to the streets. Officials declared a state of national emergency and vowed to resist what they described as an invasion driven by greed for Venezuela’s vast natural resources. Meanwhile, opposition figures in Venezuela welcomed Maduro’s removal and expressed a willingness to form a transitional government aligned with democratic restoration. (New York Post)
Internationally, the reaction has been equally intense and divided. World leaders rushed to condemn or support the U.S. action. Nations like Brazil, Mexico, China, and France criticized the operation as a violation of international law and an attack on national sovereignty. The United Nations expressed deep alarm, and discussions about potential repercussions are already taking shape. A few governments, however, including Argentina under President Javier Milei, praised the move as a blow against authoritarianism. (Axios)
The crisis raises fundamental questions about sovereignty, international norms, and the balance of power in the Western Hemisphere. For many, it evokes painful memories of past interventions; for others, it represents a dramatic effort to confront corruption and transnational crime. Regardless of perspective, the events in Venezuela will likely shape geopolitical discourse for years to come.
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