Shockwaves! US Seizes Venezuela's Maduro, Igniting International Outcry and Fears of Broader Regional Intervention

Published 1 month ago• 1 minute read

Pelumi Ilesanmi

Shockwaves! US Seizes Venezuela's Maduro, Igniting International Outcry and Fears of Broader Regional Intervention

The global geopolitical landscape was significantly reshaped on Saturday, January 3, 2026, following a pre-dawn US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture and removal of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The couple, seized in Caracas, were subsequently flown to New York City to face indictments on charges of conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, import cocaine, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. This dramatic event has elicited a complex mix of jubilation, condemnation, and concern from various international actors and within Venezuela itself.

US President Donald Trump announced the successful operation, crediting extensive planning and elite Delta Force units supported by over 150 aircraft. He declared the US would temporarily “run” Venezuela to ensure a “safe, proper and judicious transition” and to fix the country's