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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro arrived in New York on Monday, just days after being forcibly taken from Caracas in a surprise U.S. military operation aimed at establishing control over the country’s oil reserves. Maduro, 63, faces serious charges related to drug trafficking, alongside his wife, Cilia Flores. Authorities swooped into Caracas on Saturday, using helicopters, fighter jets, and naval units to apprehend them.
He was transported by helicopter and armored vehicle to a courthouse in downtown Manhattan, where he was escorted by heavily armed law enforcement. The international community closely monitors Venezuela’s response to these rapid developments, as interim leader Delcy Rodríguez temporarily stepped back from her initial defiance, offering cooperation with the U.S. government.
In Caracas, around 2,000 Maduro supporters, some armed and riding motorcycles, gathered to protest, waving Venezuelan flags and shouting slogans. The Venezuelan military, loyal to Maduro, declared recognition of Rodríguez’s interim government and called for calm. There have been no official reports of casualties in Venezuela, but Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López stated that a significant portion of Maduro’s security team was killed in what he described as a cold-blooded attack, along with military personnel and civilians.
President Trump stated that the U.S. now has control over Venezuela, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that discussions about holding elections post-Maduro’s removal might be premature. When asked what the U.S. needs from Rodríguez’s government, Trump indicated: “We need full access — access to their oil and other resources to help rebuild their country.”
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, and increased production could flood the market, worsening oversupply and putting downward pressure on prices. Analysts warn that boosting crude output isn’t quick or inexpensive, given the complex political and infrastructural challenges. Oil prices initially dipped as traders assessed the implications.
The Trump administration maintains economic leverage by blocking Venezuelan oil ships and has threatened further military action. Although no U.S. troops are confirmed to remain inside Venezuela, a large naval fleet, including an aircraft carrier, remains off the coast.
Opposition figure Edmundo González Urrutia argued that while the U.S. operation was significant, it was insufficient unless political prisoners are released and Maduro’s supposed 2024 election victory is acknowledged as legitimate. Details of the operation continue to emerge, with Havana reporting that 32 Cubans were killed during the assault, and Trump suggesting Cuba could soon fall after Maduro’s capture. Trump added, “I don’t think we need any further action — it looks like it’s happening on its own.”
The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency session on Venezuela at the country’s request.
The White House signaled that its goal was not regime change but replacing Maduro with a compliant government, even if led by former associates. Maduro, a protégé of Hugo Chávez, had maintained control until his capture this weekend. He ruled alongside Flores, Rodríguez, her brother Jorge, and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello— described by a diplomatic source as a “club of five.”
The U.S. stance leaves the Venezuelan opposition sidelined, which Washington claims was robbed of victory by Maduro. Countries like China, Russia, and Iran, which have longstanding ties with Maduro, condemned the U.S. operation. China called for Maduro’s immediate release, condemning the raid as a violation of international law. Iran affirmed that its relations with Venezuela remain strong and called for Maduro’s release. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro condemned the U.S. effort as an attack on Latin America’s sovereignty, warning it could trigger a humanitarian crisis. He also rejected President Trump’s threats of military intervention and accusations of drug trafficking against him.
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