In a dramatic and unprecedented military operation, the United States seized control of Venezuela, capturing its President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the early hours of Saturday morning. President Donald Trump announced that the US would now "run the country" until a proper transition of power could be arranged, an action that stunned the world and sparked a wide array of international reactions, from jubilation among Venezuelan migrants to stern condemnation from several nations.

The audacious military raid, code-named "Operation Absolute Resolve," was meticulously planned over months by various branches of the US military and intelligence agencies, with the elite Delta Force leading the ground assault. Trump, along with his closest advisors including CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, watched the two-hour, 28-minute operation unfold in real-time from a secure room at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. The mission involved over 150 aircraft, including F-18, F-22, F-35 fighter jets, Seahawk and Chinook helicopters, B-1 supersonic bombers, and unmanned drones, launched from a fleet of US warships off the Venezuelan coast. Caracas was plunged into darkness as US forces dismantled and disabled air defenses to ensure the safe passage of helicopters. The ground assault targeted Maduro's heavily guarded compound at Fort Tiuna in the center of Caracas. During a fierce firefight, Maduro and his wife were apprehended as they attempted to flee into a steel-doored panic room, but were reportedly "bum-rushed so fast" they couldn't seal the door. Two US soldiers sustained non-threatening gunshot wounds, and one helicopter was hit but remained flyable. Following their capture, Maduro was blindfolded, wearing an eye mask and ear defenders, and flown to the USS Iwo Jima warship before being transported to New York City to face charges at Manhattan Federal Court for narcoterrorism, drug smuggling, and weapons offenses, alongside his wife.

President Trump justified the intervention by repeatedly accusing Maduro of heading a "narco-terrorist" organization, the "Cartel de los Soles," and flooding the United States with illegal narcotics and criminals. A $50 million bounty had previously been placed on Maduro's head. Beyond drug enforcement, Venezuela's vast oil reserves, reputedly the world's largest, played a significant role in the US's stated objectives. Trump claimed the US would be "strongly involved" in Venezuela's oil industry, with American oil giants expected to invest "billions and billions of dollars" to reconstruct "rotted" infrastructure, ramp up production, and sell "large amounts" to other countries. This was framed as reclaiming wealth and property allegedly "stolen" by Venezuela. Maduro's authoritarian rule, characterized by rigged elections, imprisonment of political rivals, alleged extrajudicial killings, torture, and the country's severe economic collapse under hyperinflation and chronic shortages, also served as a major pretext for the intervention.

The operation marks a significant, and in many ways unprecedented, shift in US foreign policy, constituting the first direct US military attack on a South American country. This action signals an expansion of the US military presence in the region, described as a "Trump corollary" to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine. Historians like Alan McPherson noted the "shocking" nature of the intervention, comparing it to the 1989 capture of Panama's dictator Manuel Noriega. McPherson expressed concern that this era of "naked imperialism" appeared to be far from over in the 21st century. The US has a long history of interventions in Latin America, but overt military operations were largely confined to Central America and the Caribbean, with covert actions toppling governments in Brazil, Chile, and Argentina.

International reactions to Maduro's capture were sharply divided. Venezuelan migrants worldwide erupted in celebration, with thousands taking to the streets in cities like Santiago, Madrid, Bogota, and Buenos Aires, expressing immense joy and hope for a free country after years of a regime that oversaw one of the world's largest migration exoduses. Several world leaders also welcomed the news: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump for his "bold and historic leadership," while Argentinian leader Javier Milei and Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa hailed the ousting. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky pointedly insinuated that Trump should deal with Russia's Vladimir Putin in a similar manner. French President Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Foreign Secretary Keir Starmer welcomed the end of Maduro's "dictatorship," though Starmer initially hesitated to condemn or endorse the legality of the US action. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, described the actions as "unorthodox and contrary to international law" but suggested they might "make China and Russia think twice."

Conversely, numerous nations condemned the US military actions. Russia denounced it as an "act of armed aggression," and China accused the US of violating international law and threatening "peace and security" in the region. Mexico, Colombia, and Spain strongly rejected the unilateral military operations, with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stating that while his government did not recognize the Maduro regime, it also would not recognize an intervention that violates international law. A spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern, stating that "these developments constitute a dangerous precedent" and emphasized the importance of full respect for international law, including the UN Charter. Within the US, some one-time allies-turned-critics, like Representatives Marjorie Taylor-Greene and Thomas Massie, argued that the massive military operation departed from Trump's "America First" pledge for less foreign entanglement, while conservative social media voices largely rallied behind Trump, coining the term "Trump Doctrine" to replace the Monroe Doctrine.

The immediate fallout also severely impacted thousands of tourists vacationing in the Caribbean. Flights from islands like St. Thomas, Aruba, and Puerto Rico were abruptly canceled after the Federal Aviation Administration closed all airspace around Venezuela. An anonymous American tourist described being woken by a Delta Air Lines cancellation text, finding himself on a 40-minute hold line with thousands of others, initially unaware of the US strike. This led to significant financial burdens, with tourists forced to pay for extra nights at resorts, and uncertainty regarding airline compensation. Delta's website showed no outbound flights from some locations until at least January 10, leaving many fearing an "indefinite rolling" delay.

Looking ahead, Trump articulated plans for the US to "run Venezuela" until a "safe, proper and judicious transition" could take place, not ruling out "boots on the ground." The role of US oil giants, particularly Chevron (the only US company still operating there), ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips, is central to Trump's vision of rebuilding the Venezuelan oil industry. While Trump suggested pre-existing agreements, these companies remained cautious in their public statements, emphasizing compliance with laws and monitoring developments. Analysts like Jorge León of Rystad Energy expressed skepticism, noting that companies would demand stability and remember past nationalizations by Hugo Chavez. The global oil market's "oversupply" and decreasing prices also mean companies would be "very, very selective" in investment. The long-term outcome remains uncertain, with McPherson warning that US interventions rarely lead to "peace, tranquility, stability and democracy," often creating "long-term problems of succession." Trump also indicated a readiness for a "second strike" if necessary.

During his press conference from Mar-a-Lago, Trump hailed the operation as "one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military, might and competence" in history. He defended his foreign policy evolution, arguing that Maduro's removal would benefit US interests by providing energy access and curbing drug trafficking, aligning with his "America First" mantra of surrounding the US with "good neighbors" and stability. However, the event was also marked by Trump's characteristic digressions, where he veered into airing grievances against his predecessors, critical city mayors, and past generals, and defending his decision not to brief Congress due to fears of leaks. He even likened watching the raid to "watching a television show," highlighting his personal involvement and perspective on the historic event.