Shockwaves in Caracas: The U.S. Capture of Nicolás Maduro
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| captured President Nicolás Maduro |
A Sudden Strike
In a stunning overnight operation, U.S. forces launched strikes across Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro, ending his long rule. The move marks Washington’s most direct intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama to depose Manuel Noriega.
Scenes on the Ground
In Santiago, Venezuelan exiles celebrated the news, waving flags and chanting for a “new beginning.”
In Caracas, Maduro loyalists gathered in protest, denouncing the U.S. action as an assault on sovereignty.
Despite the strikes, Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA reported that production and refining facilities remained intact and operating normally.
The Road to Conflict
Maduro had recently signaled openness to U.S. investment in Venezuela’s oil sector and cooperation on drug trafficking. Yet tensions escalated as the Trump administration tightened sanctions, seized Venezuelan oil tankers, and accused Maduro’s government of corruption and narcotics trafficking. Analysts note this pressure campaign set the stage for direct military action.
Echoes of History
The operation recalls the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989, when Noriega was captured under similar allegations. Both cases highlight Washington’s willingness to intervene militarily in its “backyard” when diplomacy and sanctions fail.
What Comes Next
Legal questions: The basis for the strike remains unclear, raising debates in Washington and abroad.
Regional fallout: Allies and adversaries across Latin America are watching closely, with some condemning the move as destabilizing.
Energy markets: With PDVSA still functioning, global oil prices may remain steady—though uncertainty looms.
Magazine takeaway:
This is not just a story of one man’s fall, but of geopolitics, oil, and the enduring shadow of U.S. power in Latin America.President Trump holds a press conference after the United States said it captured Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife, and flew them out of the country https://t.co/kjFWih5WBO
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 3, 2026
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