What Happened
On Jan 3rd, Saturday morning at around 2 am a military operation occurred in Venezuela. The president of Venezuela was kidnapped along with his wife. While the operation happened, bombs went off that killed over 80 people with 32 of those being in the Cuban military along with civilian deaths. The operation lasted around two and half hours, less than 30 being the actual capturing, with no American deaths. Maduro and his wife are now in America where they are awaiting trial for crimes they’ve committed. There is even a picture of him blindfolded in a Nike sweatshirt and headphones on.
International response
The neighbouring countries of Venezuela have increased their security along their borders for any incoming refugees.
Colombia’s president specifically stated that any threats from the United States could force him to “take up arms” for his country. If his country is getting threatened by the US they’ll fight back and not let them do whatever they want.
A statement from the United Nations Secretary, General António Guterres, warns that America has started a dangerous precedent on not needing to follow the rules of international laws.
The countries that said they didn’t like the US actions include Brazil, Chile, China, France, Iran, Mexico, North Korea, Russia, South Africa, and Spain.
The countries that supported our operation include Argentina, France, Germany, Israel, Peru, and Ukraine. The UK said it’s good that the president is taken care of but wants to hear more of the facts.
The why
We carried out this operation because their president had criminal charges in America that couldn’t go to court since he wasn’t in America. Obviously, Maduro wasn’t going to come to America to be prosecuted so we went to take (kidnap) him. Trump stated that he was enforcing the American constitution and this was justified, the UN opposes this since it was still a violation of “Venezuela’s sovereignty.” All of this is more of a reason to justify America’s involvement in Venezuela, which will then put Venezuela in debt to America, which will be repaid in oil. Basically the “why” is two reasons: to capture a leader/enemy/criminal of the US, and for oil.
What now
Trump announced that the US will be “run(ning)” Venezuela until they get a new president. Then on Jan 5th the vice president Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as the acting president. It appears that the US will still have major influence over Venezuela. Rodríguez reaffirmed this by saying that the US will “still wield influence on Venezuela.” Throughout the week Rodríguez has refuted many of Trump’s claims leading to speculation on if Trump is really telling the truth.
There will also be business going into Venezuela so that their infrastructure can be built up more. Oil production in Venezuela hasn’t been too great recently, mainly because of the political instability and safety concerns that major oil companies took into account. Having America there to ensure safety allows those companies to move in and build up oil production and Venezuelan infrastructure since they’ll need to move the oil.
Venezuelan people and American people perspectives
Response online from Americans haven’t been very positive with many believing that this will turn into another Iraq situation. Both we took over/influenced the government, both of them have vast amounts of oil, and both were insatiable with poor/terrible leaders. However, it’s unlikely that Venezuela will end up like Iraq because they already have decent stability within their own government as well as working with the US. America also plans to stay for however long Venezuela needs which is different from the US abandoning Iraq.
Venezuelans have a mixed reaction to what’s happened. Having their dictator or a president who was riddled with corruption being removed from political involvement with the country is a positive. Having a leader who brought suffering to your people removed should be a good thing that is celebrated, which is why we can see many out in crowds looking very happy about what the US did for them. As good as that is, it also brings confusion and uncertainty. Sure he was a bad dictator, but since he’s been there for so long, life under Maduro had become the usual for Venezuelans. Now that he’s gone and there’s armed US forces all around which is causing a big, uncertain, change in everyday life. There’s also fear that other political figures like Diosdado Cabello who still support Maduro will find a way to take control of Venezuela’s army and cause more damage.
What I’ve seen on instagram with Americans is some who are very against what’s happened, and others who think that we’ve done good. But, nearly all Venezuelans that I’ve seen are very happy with what has happened and are happy Maduro is gone. There’s some Vensulans who are cautious, but I’ve seen none who have said that they wish America hadn’t done anything. This is just what I’ve seen on social media and we all know how misinformation spreads there.
Wrap Up
Maduro and his wife has been taken from Venezuela to America to be put on Trial
America has violated international laws
There are countries that condemn America but also some that support
US forces are supposed to stay for a while according to Trump (not yet confirmed by Rodríguez)
America will be getting 50 million gallons of oil
Billions will be invested into Venezuela
Venezuelans have mixed emotions of happiness, confusion, caution, and fear
Sources cited
Staff, A. J. (2026, January 7). Trump administration claims it will ‘dictate’ policy to Venezuela. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/7/trump-administration-claims-it-will-dictate-policy-to-venezuela
Venezuelans react to US Maduro arrest with hope and uncertainty. (2026, January 4). BBC Breaking News, World News, US News, Sports, Business, Innovation, Climate, Culture, Travel, Video & Audio. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c86vq753nwpo
