U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday the temporary American control over Venezuela following the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro during a daring raid, with Maduro being brought to New York to face drug-trafficking charges. Trump, speaking from Mar-a-Lago, stated, “We can’t take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela who doesn’t have the interests of Venezuelans in mind.” As part of this takeover, he mentioned that major U.S. oil companies would move into Venezuela to repair its severely damaged oil infrastructure, a task experts believe could take years.
Critics were quick to raise concerns over Trump’s focus on oil during the press conference, questioning whether the operation to capture Maduro was truly a law enforcement measure aimed at combating drug trafficking or whether it had deeper economic motivations. The U.S. Special Forces executed a nighttime operation that included electrical outages in parts of Caracas and strikes on military sites, eventually leading to Maduro’s capture at one of his safe houses. He and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken to a U.S. Navy ship before being flown to New York. Video evidence showed Maduro arriving at Stewart International Airport, with a convoy transporting him to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Indicted on multiple U.S. charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, Maduro is set to face an initial court appearance in Manhattan. His wife faces similar charges. Concerns rose over how Trump planned to manage Venezuela, as U.S. forces have no control over the country and Maduro’s government remains intact. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez appeared on television to denounce Maduro’s capture, labeling it a kidnapping and insisting he is the nation’s legitimate president. Following this, a Venezuelan court appointed Rodriguez as interim president.
In the United States, legal experts questioned the legitimacy of seizing a foreign head of state, prompting Democrats who felt misled in previous briefings to call for a clear plan regarding future actions. Meanwhile, the streets of Venezuela showed calm; some soldiers were deployed, and small pro-Maduro groups gathered in Caracas. Many Venezuelans expressed varied opinions on Maduro’s removal, with some feeling relieved, while others remained supportive of their leader.
Trump did not clarify how the U.S. would govern Venezuela while Maduro’s regime is still functional. He hinted at the involvement of his aides, Rubio and Hegseth, in overseeing the country and signaled receptiveness toward deploying U.S. troops on the ground. The potential removal of Maduro raises fears over a power vacuum, with Venezuela sharing borders with Colombia, Brazil, Guyana, and the Caribbean.
Trump indicated that the U.S. had not contacted opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, whom many consider a significant rival to Maduro. He criticized her lack of national support, reiterating that he did not foresee working with her. His remarks drew parallels to past military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan, where prolonged U.S. military presence ultimately resulted in withdrawals after incurring substantial costs and casualties.
Historically, the U.S. has not intervened directly in Latin America at such a level since the 1989 Panama invasion, which aimed to remove Noriega due to drug allegations. Trump drew a comparison between his actions and the Monroe Doctrine, suggesting a new paradigm he termed the “Donroe Doctrine”. Reactions from Latin American countries varied significantly, with Argentina’s President applauding the intervention while Mexico and Brazil condemned it.
China and Russia, both strong allies of Venezuela, openly criticized the U.S.’s actions, with China’s foreign ministry denouncing U.S. hegemony and violations of Venezuela’s sovereignty. Back home, Trump argued that an occupation would incur no costs for the U.S., claiming that oil revenues would cover expenses—a notion reminiscent of the pre-Iraq war rationale, which ultimately proved unfounded as costs soared into the trillions.
The unfolding situation poses political risks for Trump domestically, especially ahead of the November midterms when control of Congress hangs in balance. Polls indicate that American voters prioritize domestic economic issues over foreign intervention. Furthermore, Trump might alienate members of his base who supported his “America First” agenda. Some former supporters voiced discontent, feeling that Trump’s recent military engagement contradicted their expectations for reduced foreign involvement.
With information from Reuters
