The US federal government announced that Maduro and Flores had beenindicted onseveral charges related tonarcoterrorism.[21][22] Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty to the charges inManhattan federal court on 5 January 2026.[23][24] US presidentDonald Trump andhis administration justified the operation as a law-enforcement action, with military support, that the president has "inherent constitutional authority" to undertake.[25]
Venezuelan vice presidentDelcy Rodríguez denounced the capture as akidnapping.[26][27] Venezuelan officials said at least 23[a] Venezuelan security officers were killed during the attack.[10][28] TheCuban government said that 32 members of the Cuban military and intelligence agencies were killed.[32][9] Officials in theUnited Nations (UN), the US, and other countries,[b][33] as well as international law experts said the raid violated theUN Charter and Venezuela's sovereignty.[34][17][35] Other reactions around the world included celebrations by theVenezuelan diaspora and protests against the attack.[36][37]
The Venezuelan government remained in place, with Rodríguez sworn in as acting president on 5 January 2026.[38] Multiple political prisoners (including foreigners) detained in Venezuelawere released,[39] a gesture which, according to Trump, contributed to avoiding a second wave of attacks.[40] On 30 January, Rodríguez announced an amnesty bill for political prisoners covering the period of 1999 to present.[41] As of 12 February, the number of political prisoners released confirmed since 8 January was 431 out of an estimate of over 800 held before January, according to human rights organizations.[42][43]
By February, the US and Venezuela had already restarted diplomatic relations, with theEmbassy of the United States, Caracas being reopened since its closure in 2019.[44]
Trump and his administration made clear thataccess to Venezuelan oil was a core reason for the action.[c] United States announced a 50-million-barrel oil supply deal with the remaining government in Venezuela, with the first $300 million already received on 20 January.[45] On 29 January, a new law was passed by Rodríguez to give private companies control over the production and sale of oil.[46] In parallel, the United States lifted sanctions imposed on Venezuelan oil trade and issued licences for companies to trade Venezuelan oil.[47][48] According to US Secretary of EnergyChris Wright, who visited Venezuela in February, the sale of Venezuelan oil have already reached over $1 billion dollars since Maduro's capture and about $5 billion are expected in the upcoming months.[48]
Nicolás Maduro has been criticized for authoritarian rule sinceHugo Chávez hand-picked him as the nextpresident of Venezuela in 2013.[49] According toReuters, "Maduro ruled Venezuela with a heavy hand ... presiding over deep economic and social crises and resisting pressure from domestic opponents and foreign governments for political change", and was "long accused by critics both at home and abroad of being a dictator who jailed or persecuted political opponents and repeatedly staged sham elections".[49]Mark Weisbrot states that Venezuela has faced aneconomic crisis since theoil glut of the 2010s, due to its export-dependent economy.[50]
For years, the US government pressured Maduro, considering him an "illegitimate leader".[51] Maduro's victory in the2018 Venezuelan presidential election was disputed and 45 countries did not accept the results, causing apresidential crisis that divided the international community from 2019 to 2023.[52] Absent any vote tallies, Maduro was declared the winner of the2024 Venezuelan presidential election by the government-controlledNational Electoral Council; the result was "widely condemned as fraudulent by international observers and the opposition"[49] who found statistical improbabilities in the results.[49][53][54][55] The opposition showed evidence and vote tallies that its candidate,Edmundo González, had won a majority, matching the results of pre-election opinion polls,[56][57] who was "widely believed to have won [the] election, and by a landslide", according toThe New York Times.[58] The Venezuelan government issued an arrest warrant for González, who left the country and was granted asylum in Spain.[59] In January 2025, theBiden administration recognized González as Venezuela's legitimate president-elect.[58] The Trump administration had sought to prosecute Maduro on narco-terrorism charges since at least 2020.[60] At a 2023 press conference, Trump said, "Venezuela was about to collapse. We would have taken over it ... [and] kept all that oil."[61]
Cilia Flores is a Venezuelan lawyer and politician who rose to power after she represented Chávez,[62] who was imprisoned following the1992 coup attempt; Flores helped secure his release in 1994.[63] She was an influential part of Chavez's movement,Chavismo, although known for keeping a low public profile.[64] In 2000, one year after Chavez became president of Venezuela, Flores was voted into the National Assembly.[65] After becoming president of the National Assembly in 2006, she banned journalists from the legislative chamber, and was criticized for appointing dozens of relatives to public positions in Venezuela.[66] She was the Attorney General of Venezuela from 2012 to 2013.[67] Having known each other since the 1990s, Flores and Maduro married in 2013 following his succession of Chávez as president.[68] Maduro, rather than describing her as the First Lady, has used the term "primera combatiente" or "First Combatant" of the revolution.[69] USDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers arrested two of her nephews in a Haitian sting operation in 2015, and they were sentenced on drug conspiracy charges but released in a 2022 prisoner swap with the Biden administration that included theCitgo Six.[70] Flores has beensanctioned or the subject of travel bans by the United States, Canada, Panama, and Colombia for allegations of corruption and undermining democracy.[71]
Venezuela holds the world's largest provenoil reserves, estimated at 17% of the global total, or 300 billion barrels.[74] In December 2025, the US begana maritime blockade of sanctioned oil orshadow fleet tankers.[75]
The 2025–2026 operations are seen by the Trump administration as serving the triple goals of crippling Maduro, disrupting drug trade routes, and getting access to Venezuelan oil; Trump stated that revenue generated would go to the Venezuelan people, US oil companies, and "to the United States of America in the form of reimbursement for the damages caused us by that country".[76] Following the raid, Trump's press conference made clear that oil was a motivation for action in Venezuela.[c] Citing the restructuring of Venezuela's oil industry in 1976 and 2007, Trump,Stephen Miller, and others claimed that Venezuela had stolen oil from US companies.[80][81][82][83] Trump suggested on 5 January that seized oil could be treated as a US asset, asserting the willingness to sell it or add it to the USStrategic Petroleum Reserve.[84] On 9 January, after other sanctioned vessels were seized, and a tanker was returned to Venezuela as part of a joint operation between interim authorities in Venezuela and the US, Trump said: "This tanker is now on its way back to Venezuela, and the oil will be sold through the GREAT Energy Deal, which we have created for such sales."[85][86]
The Trump administration also expressed interest in Venezuela's large deposits ofgold andrare earth minerals. Some experts noted that the Maduro government had previously attempted to offer the US access to these minerals in a failed attempt to stave off military action, with the ongoing operations marking a return to "resource imperialism".[79]
Trump stated on the day of the military operation thatUS oil companies would invest billions to increase oil production in the country;[87]ExxonMobil,ConocoPhillips, andChevron Corporation (theUS oil majors) reportedly had no prior knowledge of the operation to remove Maduro and unnamed sources said they had no discussions with the Trump administration before the operation about investing in the country if Maduro was removed.[88][89] Trump further stated that US oil companies would invest $100 billion in Venezuelan oil production;[90][91] in a meeting between Trump and two dozen oil company executives on 9 January, ExxonMobil CEODarren Woods stated that Venezuela was "uninvestable" due to the legal framework in the country while the majority of the executives in attendance did not make firm investment commitments.[92][93] ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips left Venezuela aftertheir assets were expropriated in 2007, while Chevron continued its operations.[93] Two days after the meeting, Trump told reporters that he was "inclined" to keep ExxonMobil out of Venezuela because he "didn't like Exxon's response" to his proposed investments for the country and thought that "They're playing too cute."[94]
Unlike Congress, Trump claimed to have spoken with oil companies both "before and after".[95][96][97]
US attorney generalPam Bondi's August 2025 announcement that the reward for Maduro's arrest has increased to $50 million
The United States accused Maduro ofelectoral fraud and presiding over a "narco-state".[98] In March 2020, during Trump's first term, the United States Justice Departmentindicted Maduro on cocaine-trafficking conspiracy charges, which Maduro denied.[99] Trump designated two Venezuelan drug gangs, theTren de Aragua and theCartel of the Suns, asForeign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) in January and July 2025 respectively, and alleged that the latter was led by Maduro. Maduro denied being involved in cartel leadership and characterized the designations as an attempt to use thewar on drugs for regime change.[56][57][99][100] Some Latin American crime experts have described the Cartel of the Suns as more of a general network of Venezuelan government and military corruption than as an organized group. Also in July 2025, a secret order instructed the US military to use force against cartels listed as terrorist organizations.[101][99] In August 2025, the reward for Maduro's arrest increased to $50 million with US attorney generalPam Bondi calling Maduro "one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and a threat to our national security."[102]
However, theAssociated Press reported in January 2026 that while the US government has never publicly accused Delcy Rodríguez of criminal wrongdoing related to the drug trade, the Drug Enforcement Administration has nonetheless gathered an extensive intelligence file on Rodríguez since 2018 and designated her as a "priority target" in 2022—which the agency does for individuals suspected of having "significant impact" on the drug trade.[103][104]
In August 2025, the United States began a military buildup in thesouthern Caribbean, deploying warships and military personnel.[105][106] TheCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA) sent a team into Venezuela that began tracking Maduro's movements,[107] using a source close to the Venezuelan president, and plans were made for the capture of Maduro months in advance. TheDelta Force and other participants in the operation erected amockup of thesafe house in which Maduro was believed to be hiding, described by Trump as a "very highly guarded ... fortress".[6] In September, theUnited States Southern Command began conducting military strikes on vessels in theCaribbean Sea, alleging some weretrafficking drugs on behalf of Venezuela.[108][109][110]
In November 2025, Venezuelan opposition leaderMaría Corina Machado promised to open Venezuela's oil and gas reserves during a business meeting in Miami attended by Trump, and the Trump administration engaged in secret talks with Maduro's government about its oil reserves.[111] In December 2025, this escalated to includeseizures of sanctioned oil tankers carrying Venezuelan crude.[111][112][113] These seizures formed part of the broader blockade on sanctioned oil preceding the January 2026 operation.[113][114] The US also launchedcovert operations in Venezuela under the directive of the CIA in late December.[115] On 2 January 2026, Trump announced that the US military would conduct strikes inside Venezuela.[116]
In the weeks preceding the operation,Trinidad and Tobago signed an agreement with the US to allow US military access to its airports.[117] GeneralDan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a 3 January press conference that the US military had spent months planning and rehearsing the operation, with forces positioned and ready by early December.[18] In late December, the US escalated its military efforts against Venezuela onto land, including striking a remote northern port reportedly used by Tren de Aragua for smuggling. At that time, Maduro rejected an offer from the US to go into exile in Turkey. According toThe New York Times, Maduro's public displays downplaying the seriousness of the American threats in the weeks before the operation, such as through public dancing on a stage toelectronic music sampling one of his speeches in which Maduro said "No crazy war", were a factor in Trump deciding to begin the operation.[118]
President Trump stated that the operation had been ready to launch several days earlier but was postponed due to poor weather andcloud cover, which made flying into Caracas hazardous.[119] General Caine, added that US forces waited for conditions to improve to minimize the risk to civilian populations and explained that the mission proceeded only after the weather "broke just enough" to allow aircraft to maneuver safely into position.[120]
Discussions with other members of Maduro's government
According to anonymous sources,Reuters reported that United States officials established conversations with Venezuelan minister of interiorDiosdado Cabello months before, in order to avoid using the security services or militant ruling-party supporters to target the Venezuelan opposition in case of an attack.[121][122]
According to theMiami Herald, a circle of Venezuelan officials centered onDelcy Rodríguez and her brother,Jorge, privately outlined a roadmap for post-Maduro Venezuela, in which Delcy would act as figurehead and exiled generalMiguel Rodríguez Torres (no relationship to the Rodriguez siblings) would lead a "transitional government", dubbed "Madurismo without Maduro"; in return, Venezuela would welcome US investors and gradually loosen ties to US rivals such as Iran and Russia. The Venezuelan proposals were made to US envoyRichard Grenell through Qatari channels; the Trump administration reportedly rejected the overtures.[123] According to theFinancial Times, Delcy Rodríguez's brotherJorge Rodríguez had held talks with the United States government in 2025 to have his sister lead a post-Maduro transitional government, though those talks had included Maduro being allowed to go into exile instead of being captured.[124] Anonymous sources speaking forThe Guardian said that Delcy and Jorge Rodríguez were communicating with the American andQatar officials.[122] According to American officials she told them in December that "'Maduro needs to go" and stating "I'll work with whatever is the aftermath.'"[122]
Strikes
Map of the US strikes on Venezuela
Clockwise from top:
PresidentDonald Trump (right) during Operation Absolute Resolve, alongside CIA DirectorJohn Ratcliffe (left)
Following the operation, White House press secretaryKaroline Leavitt shared an eyewitness account of Venezuelan military personnel suffering injuries consistent withsonic weaponry during the American strike.[136][137] Trump later toldKatie Pavlich that "we have weapons nobody else knows about [...] we have some amazing weapons. That was an amazing attack."[138] In a separate interview with theNew York Post, he referred to one of these as a secret weapon called a "discombobulator," saying it caused Venezuelan defense systems, including Russian and Chinese rockets, to "not work," and that forces "pressed buttons and nothing worked."[139] While Trump suggested the device disrupted equipment,CNN noted that reports of personnel injuries may have involved other technologies, such as acoustic or non-lethal systems such as theActive Denial System, rather than the classified weapon he described.[140]
The strikes lasted half an hour. Smoke was seen rising from one military hangar in a Caracas base, while another was left unpowered.[131] The strikes happened under the cover of darkness as a result of both the timing of the operation and the US military's disruption of power in the city of Caracas.[146] Multiple shipping containers were destroyed and damaged in the La Guaira port strikes.[147]Satellite imagery fromVantor showed at least five destroyed warehouses, burned vehicles, and a blown-up security post.[148][120] An aircraft, believed to be aBeechcraft Baron, and aBuk-M2Esurface-to-air missile system were destroyed at Higuerote Airport.[149] The Venezuelan Science and Technology MinisterGabriela Jiménez Ramírez shared footage on social media of crumbled buildings of theVenezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC) in La Guaira which she attributed to strikes ofAGM-154 glide bombs by the United States.[150] The Venezuelan government said that Maduro declared a nationalstate of emergency after the explosions began.[151] The Venezuelan government promised to defend against US military actions which it accused of seeking regime change. It described them as "imperialist aggression" and called for theUnited Nations Security Council (UNSC) to be convened.[152]
Capture of Maduro
At 05:21Venezuelan Standard Time (VET) or 04:21Eastern Standard Time (ET),[153][154] Trump announced that Maduro and Flores had been captured and flown out of the country.[d] The capture was undertaken by theUS Army'sDelta Force,[2] with on-the-ground intelligence provided by theCIA.[6] Trump posted a photograph on his Truth Social account of Maduro on boardUSS Iwo Jima,[157] showing him blindfolded, with soundproof headphones and a grayNike sweatsuit, holding a plastic water bottle.[158] According to US Secretary of StateMarco Rubio, Maduro was arrested and would face criminal charges in the US.[147]
Nahum Fernández [es], leader of the rulingUnited Socialist Party of Venezuela, said Maduro and Flores were captured atFort Tiuna;[159] they reportedly slept at multiple locations[8] and had a "fortress-like" compound at Fort Tiuna.[133] Delcy Rodríguez confirmed that both Maduro and Flores were missing and demanded confirmation they were alive via an audio message onstate television.[126][160] According toReuters sources, Rodríguez was in Russia on 3 January 2026.[161] While other rumors indicate she was vacationing inMargarita Island.[122] Other reports indicated that Rodríguez was in Caracas.[162]
Hours after the capture, the United States attorney generalPam Bondi announced that Maduro and Flores had been indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges related to "narcoterrorism".[165] The indictment listed the charges as narco-terrorismconspiracy,cocaine importation conspiracy, possession ofmachine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.[165][166] The amended indictment did not refer to theCartel of the Suns as an organized group as previously alleged by the US, but instead as a corruptpatronage system, which aligns with experts' descriptions of its operations.[167]
Maduro and his wife were arraigned in a Manhattan federal court on 5 January 2026.[168][169] Before pleading, Maduro said: "I am the president of Venezuela, I consider myself aprisoner of war. I was captured at my home in Caracas."[170] Both pleaded not guilty to numerous drug trafficking charges. US District JudgeAlvin Hellerstein ordered that Maduro be held until at least a 17 March hearing.[168]
Venezuelan defense ministerVladimir Padrino López said that US combat helicopters fired rockets and missiles in urban areas and that officials were working to gather information on the number of fatalities and injuries.[171] Padrino López also stated that most of Maduro's personal guard were killed during the attack.[172]The New York Times reported on 3 January 2026 that an anonymous Venezuelan official said at least 40 people, including civilians and military personnel, were killed in the attack,[173] updated to 80 on 4 January, "according to a senior Venezuelan official".[32] Independent Venezuelan journalistic reports confirmed that most Venezuelan dead were among members of the presidential guard, with two civilian deaths.[174][175]
The presence of Cuban troops in Venezuela was made public after the attack.[172] Their presence was denied as far back as 2008.[172] In 2019 Maduro had claimed in an interview that no Cuban military personnel were stationed in the country and that his personal guard was Venezuelan.[172] Trump indicated that Cuban forces were involved in the operation, stating: "You know, a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday."[176][177] The government of Cuba reported that 32 Cubans were killed in Venezuela, all members of armed forces and intelligence services.[9][178] One of the most senior Cuban soldiers that died, Colonel Humberto Roca, was responsible forFidel Castro security in the past.[172]
On 6 January 55 military deaths were confirmed: the victims were 32 Cubans and 23 Venezuelans. Both the countries released on the same day the identities of the killed soldiers.[179] Also on 6 January, military forces posted a video on social media in honor of 24 soldiers killed during the attack.[28] Attorney GeneralTarek William Saab indicated that dozens of military personnel and civilians were killed and the total number is still under investigation.[28] A day later,Diosdado Cabello said that 100 persons died during the bombing.[180] Independent monitors reported as of 7 January Venezuelan military casualties as of 6 January of 42[29] or 43 soldiers (mostly at Fort Tiuna), in addition to the 32 Cuban military personnel, and 2 civilians.[29][181][30] On 16 January, Venezuelan defense ministerVladimir Padrino López, said that 47 soldiers, including 9 women, were killed during the attack.[31] Acting presidentDelcy Rodríguez declared seven days of mourning for the soldiers killed during the attack.[182] The remains of the Cuban fatalities were repatriated on 15 January. They received a mass funeral ceremony inHavana upon arrival.[183]
InCatia La Mar, strikes hit a three-story civilian apartment complex, killing one person, seriously injuring another, and destroying the exterior wall.[17][184][185][173]Yohana Rodríguez Sierra, aColombian citizen, was reported as a civilian fatality inEl Hatillo. The US had been bombing nearby telecommunications antennas, according to the victim's relative.[186][187]
According to the Department of Defense, seven US soldiers were injured and expected to survive. The soldiers suffered shrapnel and gunfire wounds.[11]
Further developments
Immediate aftermath
President Trump addresses the nation on the airstrikes against Venezuela on 3 January 2026.
The government formerly led by Maduro remained in place.[188][189] Vice PresidentDelcy Rodríguez described Maduro as Venezuela's "only president" and called for calm and unity to defend the country amid what she called his "kidnapping". She stated that Venezuela would "never again be a colony of any empire".[190][26][191] On 3 January 2026, theSupreme Tribunal of Justice ordered Rodríguez to assume the interim presidency due to Maduro's absence.[192] TheVenezuelan military announced it would recognize Rodríguez as acting president and called for a return to normalcy.[193] Rodríguez was sworn in as actingpresident of Venezuela on 5 January 2026 by her brother and president of theNational Assembly of Venezuela,Jorge Rodríguez.[38]
But we can't take a chance after having done this incredible thing last night of letting somebody else take over where we have to do it again. We can do it again too. Nobody can stop us.
The USFederal Aviation Administration issued anotice to airmen on 3 January 2026 prohibiting US aircraft from operating within Venezuelan airspace, citing "ongoing military activity".[194][195] TheUS Embassy in Caracas issued a shelter-in-place order from its relocated operations in Colombia.[196] The southern area of Caracas reportedly lost power.[197] Republican SenatorMike Lee[e] said that Secretary of StateMarco Rubio "anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in US custody,"[198] and that Maduro was expected to go on trial in the US.[198][199]
In a television interview withABC News, Rubio thanked news organizations who had received leaks about the operation before it took place for not reporting on it. According toSemafor,The New York Times andThe Washington Post had received information about the attack but did not report on it in order to not endanger the lives of US personnel involved in the operation. The acknowledgment of the media withholding information about the operation came after defense secretaryPete Hegseth imposed strict restrictions onPentagon reporters due to a mistrust of journalists' abilities to withhold militarily sensitive information from the public.[200][130]
On 5 January 2026, the Venezuelan government issued an emergency order to police to arrest anyone who supported the US attack[201] and mobilizedcolectivos (pro-government paramilitaries) who established roadblocks and searched cars and people. Fourteen journalists were detained, but 13 of them were later released.[202] On 6 January, gunfire broke out in Caracas as the ministry of communication announced that police fired upon one of their own military drones "flying without permission" but that the drone suffered no damage.[203]
United States plan announcement
On 3 January 2026, Trump stated: "We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition".[204][205] He indicated that the US might send troops to Venezuela as part of this.[206] Trump also said that Rubio had made contact with Rodríguez and that she allegedly told Rubio, "We'll do whatever you need", and that she was gracious but "really doesn't have a choice";[207] Trump further opined that Rodríguez was "essentially willing to do what we think is necessary" to revive Venezuela,[208] marking a shift in the administration's stance compared to months prior, when the US excluded any settlement with Rodríguez.[123] Media outlets noted Rodríguez's statements contradicted Trump's.[189][206]
"Venezuela unilaterally seized and stole American oil, American assets and American platforms, costing us billions and billions of dollars. They did this a while ago, but we never had a president that did anything about it. They took all of our property—it was our property. We built it. And we never had a president that decided to do anything about it. Instead, they fought wars that were 10,000 miles away. We built Venezuela oil industry with American talent, drive and skill. And the socialist regime stole it from us during those previous administrations, and they stole it through force. This constituted one of the largest thefts of American property in the history of our country."
Trump characterized the action as an application of theMonroe Doctrine, which he styled as the "Donroe Doctrine",[210] and added that "American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again."[211][212] Trump further stated that US oil companies would "go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country", and that the US was prepared to launch a second, much larger attack. He also expressed openness to a US occupation of Venezuela,[206] stating it would not cost the US anything because it would be reimbursed through revenue from Venezuela's oil reserves.[213] On 7 January, Trump stated that US efforts to revitalize Venezuela could take "much longer" than a year, adding that the Venezuelan authorities were doing "everything that we feel is necessary".[214] Regarding the reward the US government offered for information leading to Maduro's capture, Rubio added that nobody will be receiving it. Rubio said "I guess we save $50 million" to which Trump replied "Don't let anybody claim it. Nobody deserves it but us."[168]
On 4 January 2026,Marco Rubio retracted Trump's comments of the day before, saying the US would not govern Venezuela, but would continue to enforce the existing oil quarantine in order to pressure Venezuela for policy changes.[215] Rubio also affirmed that the US did not officially recognize Rodríguez's presidency, despite Trump's avowal that he would work with Rodríguez.[216] According toThe New York Times, Vice President Rodríguez's economic record of increasing her country's oil production and stabilizing its economy despite harsher US sanctions in recent years and her reputation among Venezuelan and foreign business leaders as atechnocrat, had earned the respect of American officials.[118] For her part, Rodríguez conveyed an offer to collaborate with US officials "within the framework of international law". Of Rodríguez, Trump said that "she's cooperating", threatened her if she did not, and maintained that he would demand "total access" by US oil interests.[217]
On 7 January, Marco Rubio stated that the US government has a three-stage plan for Venezuela: stability, recovery, then transition. According to Rubio, the first phase is about the stabilization of the country after the strikes and stopping it from "descending into chaos," including refining and selling up to 50 million barrels of seized Venezuelan crude oil, adding that "that money will then be handled in such a way that we will control how it is disbursed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people, not corruption, not the regime, so we have a lot of leverage to move on the stabilization front." During the second phase of recovery, the goal is to assure foreign companies have access to Venezuelan oil trade and "also, at the same time, begin to create the process of reconciliation nationally within Venezuela, so that the opposition forces can be amnestied and released from prisons or brought back to the country, and begin to rebuild civil society." Rubio added that the final and third phase consist on overseeing a transition, "this will be a process of transition. In the end, it will be up to the Venezuelan people to transform their country."[218]
Trump stated there was an agreement by Venezuela to deliver a few months' worth of oil to the US, intimating that other steps, such as the freeing of political detainees and a role for the exiled opposition, might be next. However, President Rodríguez denied the existence of a deal, saying "no external agent" was dictating her decisions.[219]
On 8 January, the US Senate voted 52 to 47 to advance a war resolution that aimed to block the president's use of the US military to engage in military action within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress. The measure passed with the support of five Republican senators, but did not reach a veto-proof majority.[220]
Renewal of diplomatic relations
After the announcement of the release of political prisoners by the Venezuelan government on 8 January, the US and Venezuela began discussions to restart diplomatic relations, including the possibility of reopening of the United States embassy in Caracas which was closed in 2019.[221] US officials visited Caracas and on 10 January, the US State Department published a security alert urging its citizens to leave Venezuela immediately due to the presence ofcolectivos (pro-government paramilitary groups) targeting US citizens.[222]
Donald Trump announced on 14 January that he talked by phone with acting president of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez on oil, trade and national security. The call was confirmed by Rodríguez, who qualified the phone call as positive.[223] Rodríguez also announced to have sent envoys to meet with United States officials the next day.[224]
On 15 January,Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) directorJohn Ratcliffe met with Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas to discuss cooperation and economic stability. According to a US official "The director made clear Venezuela can no longer provide support to drug traffickers like TDA" (referring to the criminal organizationTren de Aragua).[225]
After a discussion with Delcy Rodríguez on 29 January, Trump announced the re-opening of Venezuelan airspace.[226]
US diplomatLaura Farnsworth Dogu was appointedcharge d'affaires for Venezuela on 22 January,[227] and arrived to Venezuela on 30 January.[228] On 2 February, she met inMiraflores Palace with Delcy and Jorge Rodríguez to establish "the work agenda between the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the United States." After the meeting, the US embassy shared in social media that Dogu met with the Venezuelan administration to "reiterate the three phases that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had outlined for Venezuela: stabilization, economic recovery and reconciliation, and transition."Felix Plasencia was named as diplomatic representative of Venezuela to the United States.[44]
United States Energy SecretaryChris Wright arrived to Caracas on 11 February to make an assessment on Venezuala's oil industry. He met with Delcy Rodríguez in the presidential palace. Days before, Wright said he was expecting to "visit some of the nation's oil fields to see firsthand how President Trump's historic U.S.-Venezuela Energy Deal is unleashing peace and prosperity."[229] According to Venezuelan information minister, they discussed a bilateral energy agenda. The last US Energy Secretary that visited Venezuela before that wasBill Richardson in 2001 under US presidentBill Clinton.[230]
Dogu and Plasencia received a US shipment of 6 metric tons of medicine and medical supplies that arrived to Venezuela on 13 February. Dogu indicated it was the "the first of many donations" that will arrive "in the coming days". Plasencia said that it was a "message of cooperation among two sovereign countries."[231]
Role of Venezuelan opposition
Influenced by a CIA analysis,[232] Trump stated after the strikes thatMaría Corina Machado, the leader of the opposition, did not have the necessary support or respect in the country to govern.[206][233] The relationships between Machado and the Trump administration as well as Venezuelan civil society had been deteriorating for months beforehand;[234] according toThe Washington Post, quoting two sources "close to the White House", Machado had committed the "ultimate sin" in Trump's eyes of accepting the2025 Nobel Peace Prize instead of turning it down and passing it to him.[235][236] Machado confirmed on 6 January that she had no contact with Trump since October 2025 when she was announced as the Nobel winner, and voiced discontent with Trump's decision to back Rodríguez, saying she was "nothing like a moderate" and that the US expected her to take steps toward democracy.[237]
Machado dubbed Rodríguez "one of the main architects ... of repression", saying everyone was familiar with her record; she also insisted that she "absolutely" qualified for the leadership of the country and lauded Trump's "leadership and courage" in taking out Maduro.[238]
On 15 January, María Corina Machado met privately with Donald Trump and later with multiple US senators.[239] Machado presented her Nobel Medal to Donald Trump as a way to sway him to give the opposition a role in determining Venezuela's future.[239] Machado has plans to go back to Venezuela as soon as possible. She said that "This has nothing to do with tension or relations between Delcy Rodriguez and myself," and discussed that the "criminal structure" that has dominated Venezuela for years would eventually dismantle itself.[239] A week later, Trump said he was considering involving Machado in his plans on Venezuela in some way, without specifying which role she would play.[240]
On 26 January, after a hearing on Venezuela on the US Senate, Marco Rubio met with Machado. She later said to reporters that a change in Venezuela was coming.[241]
Jorge Rodríguez announced on 8 January 2026 that an "important"[242][243] number of political prisoners would be released as a "gesture" by the government.[244] Of an estimated 800 political prisoners in Venezuela,[245][246] nine prisoners were released that day.[39]
The US had previously requested the release of political prisoners, and Trump declared in an interview "they've been great ... Everything we've wanted, they've given us."[247] Trump announced on 9 January that he had cancelled a second wave of attacks due to cooperation and the release of political prisoners.[40]
TheUnited Nations Human Rights Council-mandatedIndependent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela reported that about 50 out of the estimated 800 political prisoners in Venezuela were released as of 12 January, saying it fell short on the Venezuelan government's international human rights obligations, and called for the "immediate and unconditional" release of all political prisoners.[246] Local NGOs reported that those released weren't "free", as they remained subject to restrictions and trial.[243]
On 30 January, Delcy Rodríguez announced a general amnesty bill covering the "entire period of political violence from 1999 to the present", dating back to whenHugo Chávez first assumed his presidency.[249][41] People convicted of murder, drug trafficking, corruption or human rights violations will not qualify under the amnesty law. The measure was long requested by the US-backed Venezuelan opposition. Opposition leader María Corina Machado said that the bill was not taken "voluntarily, but rather in response to pressure from the US government". Rodríguez also announced the shutdown ofEl Helicoide prison, which she said would be transformed into a cultural and sport center. Independent organizations have documented many cases of torture and human rights violation in El Helicoide. Family of some of the prisoners gathered outside El Helicoide chanting "Freedom!".[41]
Oil deals, privatization reform and ease of sanctions
Secretary of State Rubio testifies on Trump's military actions in Venezuela before theSenate Foreign Relations Committee; 28 January 2026.
On 14 January, theUnited States Department of Energy announced that the United States had completed their first sales of Venezuelan oil valued at $500 million as part of a $2 billion deal between United States and Venezuela governments.[250][251] On 15 January, Delcy Rodríguez announced that she was submitting a reform to the country'shydrocarbon law to "allow [foreign] investment flows to be incorporated into new fields, fields where no investment has ever been made and into fields where there is no infrastructure";[252][253] On 20 January, Delcy Rodríguez confirmed having received the first $300 million. She announced the money will go to the exchange market in Venezuela, the national banks and thecentral bank.[45]Reuters indicated that the remaining $200 million were returned on 3 February according to anonymous United States officials.[254]
On 23 January, the first cargo of 460,000 barrels ofnaphtha byVitol, necessary to deal with theheavy crude oil, arrived to Venezuela in a deal with between United States and Venezuela. Before that last cargo was received in December 2025 byChevron Corporation in an agreement with the United States as the naval blockade had stopped many suppliers.[255]
On 28 January, Delcy Rodríguez announced that the United States was unfreezing various funds related to 2019 oil sanctions on Venezuela.[227] The next day, Reuters announced that an US refiner,Citgo, bought Venezuelan oil for the first time since 2019.[256]
On the US Senate hearing on 28 January, US secretary of state Marco Rubio stated that "The funds from that (oil sales) will be deposited into an account that we will have oversight over," Rubio said, adding that the US Treasury would audit the expenses of the Venezulan government only on sanctioned oil so that it is used in favor of medicines or measures that would help the Venezuelan population. He said, "will spend that money for the benefit of the Venezuelan people."[257]
Rodríguez signed the hydrocarbon reform into law on 29 January.[46][258] The law allows private and foreign companies to operate oil projects under contracts over production and sales, lowers certain taxes, expands the oil ministry's authority, and permits asset transfers and outsourcing. Proposals by opposition lawmakers on grant transparency and require National Assembly approval for oil contracts were rejected.[258] Oil industry workers participated in a demonstration to celebrate the bill approval. The law reverted 2006 oil industry changes byHugo Chávez to make state companyPDVSA the main stakeholder in all oil projects.[46] In parallel, the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control lifted various oil-related sanctions imposed on Venezuela, authorizing US companies to buy, sell, transport, store and refine Venezuelan crude oil. US sanctions on production of oil were not lifted. Trump administration also announced that additional sanctions will be lifted soon.[47]
More sanctions were eased on 13 February, with the issue of two licenses allowing international companies to operate oil and gas projects in Venezuela and to negotiate contracts. Payments go to a US-controlled foreign government deposit fund. US energy secretary that visited the Venezuela in February, said that oil sales have hit $1 billion since January and would hit another $5 billion in months.[48]
According to theConstitution of Venezuela, in the event of the president becoming permanently unavailable to serve, a new election must be held within 30 days; in the event of them becoming temporarily unable to serve, the vice president acts as president for up to 90 days, which can be extended by vote of the National Assembly. The Supreme Court ruled that his absence was temporary, not permanent.[259]
Nicolás Maduro Guerra, Venezuelan congressman and son of Nicolás Maduro, declared on 27 January that elections in Venezuela are "not on the table" as his father was "kidnapped".[227]
On the US Senate hearing on 28 January, US secretary of state Marco Rubio was questioned about Venezuela. When discussing the goal of the intervention he answered "What's the end state? We want a Venezuela that has legitimate democratic elections."[260]
In an interview forPolitico in February, Machado said that she had not spoken with Trump about elections in Venezuela, but she estimated that with manual voting an election could be held in 9 to 10 months.[261] In an interview forNewsmax, Jorge Rodríguez ruled out elections in the short term, stating "The only thing I can say is that there will be no elections in this immediate period in which stabilization must be achieved."[262]
Reactions and response
Venezuela
Clockwise from the top:
Vice President Rodríguez leads a meeting atMiraflores Palace following the US strikes in Venezuela, on 3 January 2026
Rodríguez leads the 757th Council of Ministers meeting on 4 January 2026
Before Maduro's capture, theVenezuelan government said it rejected and denounced the military aggression,[263][152][126][264] and issued a public statement blaming theUS government for the strikes, which it attributed to a plan to seize Venezuelan resources, particularly oil reserves.[265][266] Defense MinisterVladimir Padrino López stated that the attacks were illegal.[120] He also said that Venezuela would resist foreign troops[267] and that the government had declared a "state of external commotion", a type ofstate of emergency, following "Maduro's orders".[268]
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez stated that Venezuela "will never again be anyone's colony – neither of old empires, nor of new empires, nor of empires in decline". She argued that the "war on drugs" was a pretext, claiming the United States' true objective was regime change and control of the country's "energy, mineral and natural resources".[206] Rodríguez also referred to the US attack on Venezuela as "Zionist".[269]
Unitary Platform politicianMaría Corina Machado published a statement from exile, saying that "what had to happen" for the opposition to take up the mandate they claimed from the 2024 presidential election "is happening".[270] She also said the presidency should be assumed byEdmundo González, who received a majority of the vote in the 2024 presidential election, according to international observers and election-watchers.[271][272][273] González said the opposition was ready to "rebuild our nation" and that the next few hours would be "decisive".[274] Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, offered to share her award with Trump, calling the United States strike as "historic" and thanking him on behalf of the Venezuelan people. The Nobel Prize Committee rejected her request and clarified that the prize "cannot be revoked, shared or transferred".[275]
United States
According to Trump, the US would "run" Venezuela until there is a "safe, proper and judicious transition". Trump went on to say that the US and US companies would seize Venezuelan oil and sell it to other countries.[276] Trump said the US would be "very strongly involved" in theVenezuelan oil industry,[35] and that US oil companies would invest billions of dollars in the energy sector of the country.[277] Secretary of DefensePete Hegseth said "We are going to get American companies in there" to invest in the Venezuelan oil industry, resulting in "access to additional wealth and resources" for the US.[278][276][98] The government also indicated that American oil companies would have to invest in rebuilding Venezuelan oil infrastructure as a prerequisite for being compensated for previousasset seizures by the Venezuelan government since the first nationalization nearly 50 years ago.[279]
Vice PresidentJD Vance stated that the operation was justified as Maduro was wanted in the US. He also declared that "the stolen oil must be returned".[280] ChairwomanLisa McClain of theHouse Republican Conference called Maduro a "narcoterrorist" and said that "Trump didn't look the other way; he acted."[281] After initially expressing uncertainty about the justification of US actions, Republican senatorMike Lee later said they "likely" fell under the president'sArticle II powers to protect against "actual or imminent attack".[147][131]
Democratic senatorBrian Schatz, a member of theSenate Foreign Relations Committee, warned against any US military involvement in Venezuela, saying that the United States has "no vital national interests in Venezuela to justify war".[147] Democratic senatorRuben Gallego said "this war is illegal".[282][34] Democratic senatorTim Kaine condemned the actions and called on Congress to support his resolution to block the use of the armed forces against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress.[128] SenatorBernie Sanders also condemned the strikes, citing a risk of global instability and accusing Trump of bypassing Congress to get the country into war.[283][284] Former vice presidentKamala Harris criticized the strikes.[285] The mayor of New York City,Zohran Mamdani, said he called Trump earlier that day to express his opposition to the strikes.[276]
In a 3 January 2026 editorial,The New York Times editorial board condemned the attack as "dangerous and illegal", describing it as an act of "latter-day imperialism" which lacked "any semblance of international legitimacy, valid legal authority or domestic endorsement". Comparing the attack tointerventions in Libya, thewar in Afghanistan, andUS involvement in Nicaragua, it warned of the "potential for chaos in Venezuela", including violence from paramilitary groups such as the Venezuelancolectivos or the ColombianNational Liberation Army (ELN), which operates in western Venezuela.[286] TheAFL-CIO condemned the attack, calling it unconstitutional.[287]
A Reuters/Ipsos survey of 1,248 Americans taken 4–5 January 2026 found that Americans were divided about the military action to remove Maduro, with 33% approving, 34% disapproving, and 33% being unsure. The survey revealed a major partisan gap, with 65% of Republicans approving of the intervention, and only 11% of Democrats approving.[288]
Cuba
In January 2026, Cuban PresidentMiguel Díaz-Canel strongly condemned strikes in Venezuela and the subsequent capture of President Nicolás Maduro, labeling the actions as "state terrorism".[289] On 15 January 2026, he was present, alongside 94-year-old fomer Cuban leaderRaúl Castro, in a ceremony inHavana to pay tribute to 32 Cuban soldiers killed in the United States intervention in Venezuela.[290]
Threats to other countries
Trump set his sights on a number of countries in the following days.[291] Trump signaled an eagerness to apply pressure on Colombia and said when asked that a similar operation there "sounds good to me". Trump threatened Colombia's presidentGustavo Petro, saying he has "cocaine mills and cocaine factories" and "likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States" but would not be doing it much longer. Trump had recently sanctioned the Colombian leader for his alleged reluctance to combatdrug trafficking in the country. Petro promised to take up arms if he had to, and Colombia'sMinistry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement opposing "an undue interference" in domestic politics.[292][293][294] Days later Trump and Petro agreed in a phone call to work together on combating drug trafficking and domestic insurgency, with Petro demanding that Trump "strike hard" against theELN in both Venezuela and Colombia; Petro said fighting the ELN "in the rear" was just as critical as attacking it inside Colombia.[295]
Trump threatened Mexico and Cuba, saying the two nations needed to do more to earn US favor, but said the latter might "fall" without US interference; he also expressed hope that Mexico would act on its own.[296] In an appearance onHannity Trump said that "We are going to start now hitting land with regard to the cartels. The cartels are running Mexico".[297]Newsweek noted that Trump had said land strikes were imminent before, but also that he had been doing the groundwork by designating cartelsForeign Terrorist Organizations.[298]
Trump renewed his talk of annexingGreenland, anautonomous territory of theKingdom of Denmark, withCNBC noting that this prompted more serious concerns in the wake of Maduro's capture.[300] The US already operates a military base in Greenland,[301]Pituffik Space Base, and Denmark has indicated its openness to a heightened US military presence there, but Trump has been uninterested in anything less than a full US takeover,[302] noting "that's what I feel is psychologically needed for success. I think that ownership gives you a thing that you can't do with, you're talking about a lease or a treaty. Ownership gives you things and elements that you can't get from just signing a document"[303]and "When we own it, we defend it. You don't defend leases the same way, you have to own it".[304] Asked "Psychologically important to you or to the United States?", he said: "Psychologically important for me."[305]
Hours after the strikesKatie Miller, wife of White House Deputy Chief of StaffStephen Miller, posted a picture of a Greenland in the colors of the American flag with the caption "SOON" onX, prompting a rebuke from Denmark's ambassador to the US that "we expect full respect" for Denmark'sterritorial integrity and the two countries, being close allies, should continue to work as such.[306] Over the following days, Stephen Miller asked "by what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland?",[307] said Denmark and nations in general unable to defend their territory forgo their claim,[308] and that it was both the formal position of the US government[309] and obvious for security that Greenland should be part of the US.[307] Asked repeatedly whether he would rule out taking Greenland by force,[310] he refused but said that such questions are moot: "Nobody's going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland."[300]
Trump emphasized the acquisition of Greenland by the US "from the standpoint of national security".[299] The leaders ofNATO membersFrance,Germany,Italy,Poland,Spain, and theUnited Kingdom expressed their support for Denmark in a joint statement, stating that "Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations", stressed they were keen on Arctic security but this had to be achieved by NATO allies collectively, and called for upholding the principles of theUN Charter, includingsovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders.[309] Hours later,[309] White House press secretaryKaroline Leavitt said that acquiring Greenland was "a national security priority of the United States", "vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region", and added: "The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the US military is always an option at the commander in chief's disposal."[311] Rubio emphasized that any acquisition of Greenland by the US would be negotiated rather than resort to military force, saying Trump's threats were mainly rhetorical and an effort to push Denmark into approving a US-friendly deal.[312] In the following days Trump said the US is "going to do something [there] whether they like it or not",[313] that "We're not going to have Russia or China occupy Greenland. That's what they're going to do if we don't. So we're going to be doing something with Greenland, either the nice way or the more difficult way"[314] and "I would like to make a deal, you know, the easy way. But if we don't do it the easy way, we're going to do it the hard way," that "the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn't mean that they own the land. [I'm] sure we had lots of boats go there also."[304] Asked if obtaining Greenland or preserving NATO was his higher priority, he said "it may be a choice."[303]
Following the strikes, Venezuela's neighbors acted to contain fallout.Colombian presidentGustavo Petro ordered the mobilization of security forces along theColombia–Venezuela border in anticipation of a mass influx of Venezuelan refugees.[315][316] On 5 January 2026, Petro, who was a former guerrilla fighter, warned that he would "take up arms" for his country if necessary after the US threatened him and his government, stating that any similar interventions in Colombia would have a response.[317] On 8 January, thousands of Colombians protested against the intervention and the capture of Maduro, including the city ofCúcuta, near the Venezuelan border.[318] On 10 January, the head of the largestFARC dissidents group,Nestor Gregorio Vera, called for other guerrilla groups to unite to face any US intervention.[319]
Police inTrinidad and Tobago, which hosts the largest per-capita population of Venezuelan refugees and migrants,[320] cordoned off key areas of the capital,Port of Spain.[321] Thegovernment of Trinidad and Tobago, which has hosted US military personnel and vessels amid its recentbuildup in the Caribbean Sea, stated that it did not participate in the attack.[147] The government ofGuyana, whoseongoing border dispute with Venezuela heated up in 2023–2024, had a muted response but were broadly supportive of the removal of Maduro. Guyanese presidentIrfaan Ali announced that the country's security forces were "fully mobilised" to deal with potential refugees and an increase in instability along the border.[322] TheCuban government declared two days of national mourning on 5 and 6 January 2026 for its soldiers killed in the attacks.[323] Later on 16 January, tens of thousands of Cubans gathered in theJosé Martí Anti-Imperialist Platform outside theUS embassy in Havana to demonstrate against US actions in Venezuela, the killings of 32 Cuban officers in the attack, and to demand the release of Maduro.[324] On 10 January,Nicaraguan authorities arrested over 60 people for supporting the capture of Maduro.[325]
UN Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres stated that US actions had "worrying implications for the region", "constitute[d] a dangerous precedent", and worried "that the rules of international law have not been respected".[326] He called on all Venezuelan actors to engage in an inclusive and democratic dialogue, stating "I welcome and am ready to support all efforts aimed at assisting Venezuelans in finding a peaceful way forward".[327] At the request of China, Colombia, and Russia, theUNSC convened on 5 January 2026 to discuss the situation.[328][329] Representatives of Russia and China called for the immediate release of President Maduro while the US representative rejected characterizations of US actions as military aggression, describing the operation as a targeted law enforcement measure to arrest an indicted fugitive.[330]
The attack was condemned by other countries, includingBrazil,[331]Chile,[332]China,[333]France,[334]Iran,[335]Mexico,[336]North Korea,[337]Russia,[338]Slovakia,[339]South Africa,[340] andSpain.[331] Government leaders inArgentina,France,[341]Germany,[341]Israel,[342]Peru,[343] andUkraine praised the developments.[344] French presidentEmmanuel Macron initially expressed joy, declaring on social media that "Maduro is a dictator, and his departure is good news for Venezuelans. He confiscated the freedom of his people and stole the2024 elections." However, days later he nuanced his message, saying that the method employed by the Americans "does not have the support or approval" of France.[345]United Kingdom prime ministerKeir Starmer said that he was happy for the fall of Maduro, and he would wait to know the facts before commenting further.[346]José Antonio Kast, the president-elect of Chile, stated that Maduro was not the legitimate president of Venezuela, had "destabilized Latin America", called his capture "great news", and remarked that work remained and the "governments of Latin America must ensure that the entire apparatus of the regime relinquishes power and is held accountable".[347] Spanish prime ministerPedro Sánchez urged de-escalation, stating that "[i]nternational law and the principles of the U.N. Charter must be respected"; this was echoed byEuropean Union (EU) foreign policy chief andEuropean Commission vice-presidentKaja Kallas.[348][147] The governments of Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Uruguay, and the outgoing administration in Chile issued a joint statement rejecting the US action and expressed their concern saying that it could "constitute an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security and endanger the civilian population".[349]
Environmental NGOs, includingGreenpeace and Oil Change International, have criticised the United States' oil-motivated actions in Venezuela and reiterated calls for ajust transition away from fossil fuels.[350]
Venezuelans inSantiago, Chile, celebrating Maduro's capture (top), demonstrators outside of Nicolás Maduro's arraignment inNew York City gathering in support of Maduro's capture (bottom)
Following Maduro's capture, demonstrations celebrating his removal and opposing his presidency occurred in Caracas, the capital and largest city of Venezuela.[352][36]
Venezuelans living abroad celebrated Maduro's removal across the United States, Spain, and Latin America. InDoral, Florida, where the largest population of Venezuelans in the US live, Venezuelans filled the streets waving flags, singing, and chanting "freedom".[353] Thousands of Venezuelans celebrated Maduro's fall inMadrid, Spain.[354] Videos from the Colombian border city ofCúcuta showed crowds filling the streets on the night of 3 January 2026, dancing to music and chanting slogans like "virtue" and "a free Venezuela".[36] Similar celebrations by Venezuelan expatriates and refugees took place inBuenos Aires inArgentina,Lima inPeru,Quito inEcuador, andSantiago inChile.[355][356][357]
Protests
Demonstration inTimes Square against the attack (left), demonstrators inCatia La Mar, Venezuela, protesting against US involvement (right)
Maduro's supporters protested against his capture in Caracas, with protesters holding portraits of Maduro and pro-Maduro and pro-Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (PSUV) banners. PSUV called for citizens to demand the release of Maduro and Flores.[358] CNN reported that while some Venezuelans celebrated Maduro's ousting, others were skeptical of Trump's motives and condemned the capture of Maduro as a "kidnapping".[36]
In the United States, hundreds of people gathered in New York City'sTimes Square to protest against the operation, with people chanting "Hands off Venezuela" and holding up signs that stated "US Out" and "No Blood for Oil".[359][37] Outside of New York, hundreds of people in different cities gathered to voice opposition to the strikes.[f]
One month after the strikes, the Venezuelan government called for a protest that gathered thousands of supporters for the release of Nicolás Maduro. His sonNicolás Maduro Guerra addressed the crowd, saying that the 3 January "will remain marked like a scar on our face, forever."[372]
Financial markets
Oil prices did not experience a surge, which had been normal with previous conflicts in oil-producing regions; prices increased 1% as of 5 January 2026. The reason is believed to be that Venezuela only represents 1% of the global oil supply and high oil production by other producers, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil. The stock prices of companies that could become involved in Venezuela without spending money, such as oilfield service companiesSLB andHalliburton, and refinersValero Energy andMarathon Petroleum, surged on 5 January 2026. Some oil companies also saw increases, such asExxonMobil andConocoPhillips.[373][374] Bonds issued by the Venezuelan government and the state oil companyPDVSA surged by 30%. Venezuela's bonds went into default in 2017 and doubled in price during the escalating tensions in 2025.[375]
Polling
In October, before the strikes, a poll byAtlasIntel showed that approximately 64% of Venezuelans abroad support US military intervention to depose Maduro, compared with 34% within Venezuela.[376] In December, a poll by Datanalisis found that 55% of Venezuelans opposed foreign military intervention while 23% supported it.[377]
After the strikes, a poll by Reuters surveying 1,248 adults in theUnited States found that 33% of Americans approved of the military action, while 34% did not; 65% of Republicans supported the action compared to 11% of Democrats, and 72% of Americans were concerned that the US would get too involved inVenezuela, including 54% of Republicans.[288] The same poll showed that Trump approval ratings rose to 42% after the attack, the highest rating since October 2025, when his approval rating was 39%.[288]
A poll was made byThe Economist on 9 January, surveying 600 Venezuelan residents of different ages and sex to reflect the national population. Most respondents were positive about the intervention, only 13% of respondents mildly opposed the capture of Maduro. The 18% of respondents oppose United States governance in Venezuela. Most respondents want a quick change of government, with 43% supportingMaría Corina Machado as the leader and 13% supporting Delcy Rodríguez. The 91% of respondents answering in support for a change of government within a year.[378][379]
According to theFinancial Times, a poll on 30 January by Gold Glove Consulting, a firm run by Mark Feierstein, former Latin America adviser to US president Barack Obama, found that 72% of those polled considered that Venezuela was moving in a positive direction after Maduro's capture. In comparison, in June 2024, three-quarters of respondents thought the country was going in negative direction. 58% said security had worsened since January. In case of elections, 67% favored Maria Corina Machado against 25% for Delcy Rodríguez. As for Rodríguez government actions so far, 37% thought was good or excellent, while 22% did not know and 41% said it was bad or very bad.[380]
Analysis
Political
International Crisis Group (ICG) analyst Elizabeth Dickinson disputed the success of the operation, noting that the Maduro regime appeared largely intact, with figures characterized as "hardliners" by Dickinson, such asDiosdado Cabello, occupying key posts such as the ministries ofdefense andthe interior. Dickinson concluded that "removing Maduro did not necessarily change the fundamental equation of control", adding that the government has withstoodsanctions by rewarding its allies with access to scarce resources.[381] Another ICG analyst, Phil Gunson cautioned anti-Maduro forces among the Venezuelan diaspora, reporting fromCaracas that "There's no dancing in the streets here".[382] Months prior, Trump had previously denied seeking a change of power inVenezuela, saying he was targeting regime-aligned cartels rather than Maduro himself.[383] Trump's evident willingness to work with Rodríguez was criticized by Venezuelan opposition sectors.[208]
Carrie Filipetti, member of theVandenberg Coalition think tank and formerState Department official during the first Trump administration, believes that the US should focus on "turn[ing] back to the democratically-elected leadership" in Venezuela to ensure both American and Venezuelan security. She explains that theVenezuelan opposition, led byMaria Corina Machado, "have the inroads" and "connections to the military" to create a "successful, smooth transition" and make sure "this doesn't devolve into chaos".[384]Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) specialist Clayton Seigle said oil companies sought stability in Venezuela above all else, adding that the outlook for US interests in the country remained uncertain. Another CSIS expert, Christopher Hernandez-Roy, said Trump's reluctance to engage in full regime change was driven by fear of chaos, noting that, aside from Maduro's removal, the current regime remained unchanged.[385]
American political analystDavid Rothkopf described President Trump's conduct as the "Putinization ofUS foreign policy".[386] Analysts Ryan C. Berg and Alexander B. Gray stated that the action showed a robust commitment to Trump's2025 National Security Strategy (NSS) and a desire to increase preeminence in the Western Hemisphere, in turn signaling a "global reestablishment of deterrence" to countries such as China, alluding to the latter's investments in Venezuela. Atlantic Council Counterterrorism Project head Alex Plitsas urged an orderly transition, warning that instability in Venezuela could lead to political fragmentation and criminal violence involving colectivo gangs; Berg elaborated that any systemic change would likely be lengthy, while reinforcing the Trump administration's "America First" agenda.[387][388]
Indian political analystBrahma Chellaney argued that while the legal framing (drug trafficking charges) resembles the1989 invasion of Panama and the seizure ofManuel Noriega, the actual methodology and strategic narrative align more closely with the2003 invasion of Iraq.[389]Douglas Farah, a national security consultant and president of IBI Consultants, compared the US invasion of Panama to the current geopolitical situation in Venezuela, warning that although thePanama operation was a relatively swift military victory, occupying Venezuela would present significantly greater challenges.[390] Professor Sultan Barakat, an expert from Qatar'sHamad Bin Khalifa University, argued that the US actions in Venezuela have set a dangerous precedent that could influence China's approach toTaiwan. He also warned that this precedent could potentially encourage Russian PresidentVladimir Putin to adopt a more aggressive stance toward Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy.[391]
Legality
Re: Proposed War Department Operation to Support Law Enforcement Efforts in Venezuela
International law experts argued that the operation may have violated international law.[392] On 3 January 2026,United Nations SpokespersonStéphane Dujarric issued a statement that said the UN Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres was "deeply alarmed by the recent escalation in Venezuela" and that United States' military action "has potential worrying implications for the region".[326] LawyerGeoffrey Robertson stated that the strike on Venezuela was contrary toArticle 2(4) of the UN Charter and qualifies as acrime of aggression under international law. Elvira Domínguez-Redondo, professor of international law atKingston University, also stated the strike was an act of aggression and that it could only have been lawful if it had authorization by aUnited Nations Security Council resolution, or was justified as "self-defense", but she added that there was "no evidence whatsoever" to support either condition.[35]
Ben Saul, a UN specialrapporteur and professor of international law, condemned "the US's illegal aggression against Venezuela and the illegal abduction of its leader and his wife" and called on Trump to be investigated and impeached.[393][394] Professor of international lawMichael N. Schmitt, law professorRyan Goodman and Tess Bridgeman concluded that the operation against Venezuela "amounts to a severe breach of foundational principles of international law".[395] Professor of law Ziyad Motala described the "intervention in Venezuela to abduct President Nicolás Maduro" as "international vandalism, plain and unadorned".[396]UN experts described Trump's actions as constituting an "international crime of aggression", adding that these actions "represent a grave, manifest and deliberate violation of the most fundamental principles of international law, set a dangerous precedent, and risk destabilizing the entire region and the world".[397][398]
Oil infrastructure
Venezuela'shyperinflation in the mid-2010s negatively impacted revenue from oil exports which magnified the decline of the industry.
Venezuela's oil industry had been in decline sinceHugo Chávez's wave ofexpropriations,[403][408]: 2–3 [409] during which former oil contracts were shifted tojoint ventures with the state-ownedPetróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) and newfiscal rules were imposed.[401][408]: 2, 4–5 [410] Legal instability and other risks drove away investors, which Venezuela could not compensate for because of its overreliance on PDVSA's "inefficient operations, economic instability, discretionary policies, and poor investor protection",[408]: 8–9 [410] worsened by US sanctions on the company since 2017.[408]: 7 In this time, the industry's oil infrastructure declined,[401][403][411] and China increased cheap imports from Venezuela.[412]
Analysts, experts, and oil industry officials believed reconstruction could cost billions of dollars and take two to seven years or more,[g] requiring risky investment and a lengthy process of creating contracts.[h] Experts also said that US companies' refining capability could threaten China's presence in the Venezuelan oil industry.[405][412] Larger oil companies are reportedly less interested in investing in Venezuela due to high investment costs and the country's political instability, while the smaller companies that are most interested have been described by industry officials as the "least prepared and least sophisticated" firms to do so.[418][93][419]
^ab23 soldiers killed as published in list by the military[10] while other sources report 24.[28] Independent Venezuelan sources indicate 42[29] or 43.[30]Vladimir Padrino López said 47 without a list.[31] See§ Casualties for more reports.
^Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Eritrea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and Spain
^"Trump Administration makes an example of Maduro, will 'run' Venezuela for now". World Tribune. 3 January 2026.Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved3 January 2026.U.S. special forces team arrived at Maduro's compound at 2:01 local time in Caracas...were onboard U.S. aircraft over the water at 3:29 a.m. (ET) and transported to the USS Iwo Jima
^Trevithick, Joseph (5 January 2026)."Did The U.S. Use Kamikaze Drones To Strike Venezuela?".The War Zone. Archived fromthe original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved6 January 2026.Multiple video clips offer strong evidence that kamikaze drones were among the capabilities the U.S. military brought to bear during the operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro over the weekend. This may have been the first real-world use of a new slate of U.S. long-range one-way attack drones and loitering munitions.
^Rodríguez, Delcy (3 January 2026), Yuleidys Hernández Toledo (ed.),¡Urgente! El pueblo tiene claro que jamás volverá a ser esclavo ni colonia [Urgent! The people are clear that they will never again be slaves or colonies.] (in Spanish), event occurs at 9:20,Y el pueblo venezolano consciente, el pueblo venezolano con su fuego sagrado de la patria encendido, está indignado por lo que es el secuestro ilegal e ilegítimo del presidente y de la primera dama, primera combatienta Cilia Flores.
^"Régimen de Maduro señala a Estados Unidos de las explosiones en Caracas y otras partes de Venezuela" [Maduro Regime Blames United States for Explosions in Caracas and Other Parts of Venezuela].NTN24 (in Spanish). 3 January 2026. Archived fromthe original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved3 January 2026.Por medio de un comunicado, la dictadura venezolana aseveró que este ataque busca "apoderarse de los recursos estratégicos de Venezuela, en particular de su petróleo" [In a statement, the Venezuelan dictatorship asserted that this attack seeks to 'seize Venezuela's strategic resources, particularly its oil.']
^Applebaum, Anne (31 July 2024)."Venezuela's Dictator Can't Even Lie Well".The Atlantic.Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved31 July 2024.In the hours after the polls closed, much of the international media had refrained from stating the obvious. 'BREAKING:,' the Associated Press tweeted on Monday. 'Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro is declared the winner in the presidential election amid opposition claims of irregularities.' But by Tuesday morning, it was absolutely clear that the election was not merely irregular or tainted or disputed: The election had been stolen.
^Davis, Sarah (17 January 2026)."Miller amid Greenland push: Nations not entitled to territories 'they cannot defend'".The Hill. Retrieved19 January 2026.He added that because Denmark "cannot defend" Greenland, citing weaknesses in their military and economy, that it should not have claims to the land. "To control a territory, you have to be able to defend a territory, improve a territory, inhabit a territory," Miller said. "Denmark has failed at every single one of these tests."
^abcdMonaldi, Francisco; Hernández, Igor; La Rosa Reyes, José (2021). "The collapse of the Venezuelan oil industry: The role of above-ground risks limiting foreign investment".Resources Policy.72 102116.Bibcode:2021RePol..7202116M.doi:10.1016/j.resourpol.2021.102116.
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