The United States conducted a military operation in Venezuela in January that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The U.S. government said the action was aimed at enforcing federal charges against the couple in U.S. courts.
U.S. officials identified the operation as Operation Absolute Resolve, involving air and ground forces that struck targets in and around Caracas before U.S. personnel took custody of Maduro and Flores. Both were later transported to the United States to face charges in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Details about the scope of the military action, including the number of aircraft and ground forces involved, have varied across reports. U.S. officials said some service members were injured during the operation but did not provide a full casualty count. Maduro and Flores were taken aboard the USS Iwo Jima before being flown to New York.
The operation followed months of escalated U.S. military presence in the Caribbean and heightened pressure on Venezuelan leadership over allegations of drug trafficking ties and other criminal conduct. The United States had previously issued indictments against Maduro and offered a reward for information leading to his arrest.
President Trump announced that the United States would temporarily oversee Venezuela during a transitional period and maintain a presence related to oil operations. He said revenue from Venezuelan oil would help finance reconstruction and benefit both Venezuelans and U.S. companies. However, experts say Venezuela’s oil industry has declined sharply due to years of underinvestment and mismanagement.
The operation has sparked debate over executive war powers and international law. Venezuela, Colombia and Russia called for an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting to address what Venezuela termed “acts of aggression” by the United States. The Trump administration informed congressional leaders about the mission only after it had begun. Many Democratic elected officials have spoken out against the mission, saying it violates international law, along with a few Republicans, most notably Senator Rand Paul. They are also concerned that America will once again be brought into nation-building, something Trump said he opposed as a candidate in 2024.
Polls in the United States show the public remains divided over the military operation, with similar shares expressing support and opposition. International reaction has included calls for respect for national sovereignty by some governments, and varied public responses within Venezuela.
Instead of backing established opposition figures such as Edmundo González Urrutia or María Corina Machado, Trump endorsed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president. The choice surprised many observers, as Rodríguez was a prominent member of Maduro’s administration and previously sanctioned by the U.S. government. Policy analysts are hopeful that Rodríguez will serve only as a caretaker leader until a democratically elected government can be formed.
The long-term effects of the operation on Venezuelan stability, governance and U.S. foreign policy are still unfolding.
