Alexandar Sullivan:
In a dramatic overnight operation, the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, marking the culmination of a months-long pressure campaign ordered by Donald Trump and raising profound questions about the future of Venezuela and U.S. foreign policy in Latin America.
The raid unfolded in the early hours of Saturday in Caracas, where elite Delta Force soldiers stormed Maduro’s fortified residence. According to U.S. officials, the Venezuelan leader attempted to flee to a reinforced safe room before surrendering. He and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody and flown out of the country under heavy military protection.
The operation, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, followed months of covert intelligence work by the Central Intelligence Agency, which tracked Maduro’s movements, habits and security arrangements. Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the mission involved more than 150 aircraft, cyber operations and precision strikes to neutralize Venezuelan air defenses.
Trump monitored the raid in real time from Mar-a-Lago, later describing the operation as “fast” and “decisive.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Maduro had been offered multiple chances to step aside peacefully and refused, calling the outcome unavoidable.
In Caracas, streets emptied amid explosions and power outages, while regional leaders warned the action set a dangerous precedent. In Washington, some lawmakers criticized the lack of congressional authorization and questioned what comes next. Trump, however, signaled a readiness for deeper involvement, declaring the United States would oversee Venezuela’s transition, a stance that underscores the far-reaching consequences of one of the most consequential U.S. interventions in decades.
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