Washington DC – President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will assume control of Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in a major military operation on January 3, 2026. Trump confirmed that US forces will remain in the country to manage its affairs and rebuild its oil infrastructure until the nation stabilizes. However, no specific timeline for this process has been set.
Maduro, along with his wife Cilia Flores, was apprehended during an overnight raid and is expected to face charges in New York, including drug trafficking and weapons-related crimes. The raid has sparked varying reactions from Venezuelans. While some celebrate the operation as a step toward positive change, others warn it could worsen the nation’s ongoing conflict.
The situation has further escalated tensions within Venezuela’s political sphere. Opposition leader María Corina Machado has called for the installation of an interim leader, while the Venezuelan Foreign Minister continues to defend Maduro as the legitimate president. Trump has also made clear that US troops will be stationed in Venezuela to secure the country’s oil, with proceeds from the oil extraction intended to compensate both Venezuela’s citizens and the United States for damages incurred during Maduro’s rule.
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