Trump Vows US Control Over Venezuela Following Raid

In a staggering escalation of American foreign policy, President Donald Trump has declared that the United States will temporarily “run” Venezuela following a high-stakes military operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking from Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, 3 January, Trump asserted that American oversight would continue until a “safe and proper” transition of power is achieved. The announcement follows a series of pre-dawn air strikes on Caracas and a daring ground raid by elite special forces.

The President confirmed that Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were apprehended during the operation and have since been flown out of the country. They are reportedly being transported to New York to face federal charges related to narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader,” Trump posted on Truth Social, adding that the mission was conducted in conjunction with US law enforcement.

Key Developments: The Venezuela Operation

During a follow-up press conference, Trump lauded the “unprecedented” success of the US military, claiming that no other nation could have executed such a precise strike. He signalled a clear economic motive for the intervention, stating that US oil companies would “very soon” be entering the resource-rich nation to stabilise and manage its energy sector. “We’re going to get the oil flowing,” he told reporters, emphasizing that American involvement is necessary to restore order to a nation he described as being under the thumb of a criminal cartel.

The intervention has triggered a global firestorm. While allies such as Israel and Italy have expressed support, citing the need to dismantle a “narco-state,” the operation has drawn fierce condemnation from Russia, China, and various Latin American leaders. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that the US had “crossed an unacceptable line,” while the United Nations Secretary-General warned that the kidnapping of a sitting head of state sets a “dangerous precedent” in international law.

Domestically, the move has polarised Washington. While Republican leaders praised the President’s “muscular” assertion of the Monroe Doctrine, several Democratic lawmakers questioned the legality of the strikes, noting the absence of Congressional authorisation. Despite the outcry, Trump remains defiant, suggesting that a “second wave” of attacks is prepared should the Venezuelan military—currently under a state of emergency declared by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez—attempt to resist the new American-led administration.