U.S. announces plans to temporarily run Venezuela and tap its oil resources after Maduro’s ouster
CARACAS / WASHINGTON. Following a bold overnight military operation in which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured and removed from the country, U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington intends to temporarily take control of Venezuela and make use of its vast oil reserves for export.
According to Trump, the United States aims to “stabilize the situation,” repair the country’s oil infrastructure, and ensure a “safe and measured transition of power.” He said the operation should serve as a warning to anyone he believes threatens U.S. security.
Maduro and his wife were detained at a military base and taken aboard a U.S. warship before being flown to New York. There, the former Venezuelan leader was handed over to federal authorities. He is expected to be held at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn while awaiting trial. The U.S. Justice Department accuses Maduro and his inner circle of involvement in a “narco-terrorism conspiracy” and large-scale drug trafficking.
The operation capped months of pressure by the Trump administration on Caracas and is being described by analysts as the most aggressive U.S. effort at regime change since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Its legality, however, was immediately questioned, as the military action was carried out without congressional authorization.
In Venezuela, the country’s Supreme Court appointed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president. Earlier, she had insisted that Maduro remained the country’s only legitimate leader and demanded his release.
During the night of the operation, explosions were heard across Caracas, along with power outages and low-flying aircraft. Venezuelan authorities accused the United States of striking both civilian and military targets. Reports indicate fatalities among Venezuelan civilians and military personnel. U.S. officials confirmed injuries among American forces but said there were no deaths.
Public reaction has been deeply divided. In Caracas, some residents protested Maduro’s detention, while others celebrated his removal. Outside the country, particularly in Florida, members of the Venezuelan diaspora gathered with national flags, chanting slogans in support of what they called Venezuela’s “liberation.”
The legality of the U.S. action is now being examined internationally. At Colombia’s request, the U.N. Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting. In Washington, members of Congress are demanding immediate clarification of the legal basis for the operation and details of the administration’s plan to ensure stability in the region.