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On Sunday, President Donald Trump indicated that the U.S. could consider a second military strike against Venezuela, especially if the Maduro regime’s remaining officials do not cooperate to stabilize the country. His remarks, made aboard Air Force One, also involved the potential for military actions in Colombia and Mexico if those nations do not curb the flow of illegal drugs to the U.S.
Trump expressed, “Operation Colombia sounds good to me,” and suggested that Cuba, a key ally of Venezuela, “seems poised to collapse” without U.S. military intervention. Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is currently detained in New York, awaiting a court hearing on drug charges, fueling uncertainties about the future of the oil-rich nation.
His administration plans to collaborate with Maduro’s remaining loyalists to combat drug trafficking and revamp the oil sector, sidestepping immediate calls for a new government or elections. Maduro’s officials dismiss the detentions, calling them kidnappings, and assert Maduro remains the legitimate leader. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello insisted, “There is only one president, Nicolás Maduro Moros. Don’t fall for enemy provocations.”
Images showing Maduro blindfolded and in handcuffs shocked many Venezuelans, reflecting Washington’s most contentious intervention in Latin America since Panama 37 years ago. Venezuela’s Defense Minister, General Vladimir Padrino, accused the U.S. of killing soldiers and civilians in a “cold-blooded” attack, stating the military has been activated to defend sovereignty. Cuba reported the deaths of 32 of its citizens during the raid.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who also serves as oil minister, has assumed interim leadership with judicial approval, maintaining Maduro’s status as president. She has been considered pragmatic but publicly denies any willingness to work with the U.S., with Trump suggesting she might face a harsher fate if she doesn’t act rightly.
The Trump administration frames Maduro’s detention as a law enforcement effort aimed at pressing charges filed in 2020, including conspiracy related to narco-terrorism, which Caracas denies. Trump emphasized the importance of U.S. oil interests, claiming that Maduro’s regime shipped countless prisoners, mental health patients, drug dealers, and addicts into the United States, prompting a “quarantine” on Venezuela’s oil resources.
Venezuelan officials have long accused Trump of seeking to take control of their natural resources, especially oil, and recent statements from U.S. leaders echoed that concern, criticizing the Venezuelan economy—once prosperous—now diminished under Maduro, causing mass emigration.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the need for Venezuela’s future leadership to protect the oil industry from foreign adversaries and cease drug trafficking, referencing ongoing U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan tankers.
In Caracas, some Maduro supporters held a government-organized march, asserting resilience and rejecting surrender, with demonstrators emphasizing that the country should never be a colony again. Although security was lighter than usual, everyday life persisted—bakeries, coffee shops, joggers, and cyclists continued their routines amid a tense atmosphere. Citizens took the opportunity to stockpile essentials, reflecting ongoing uncertainty and caution.
The opposition remains skeptical about Maduro’s detention, and Trump has dismissed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s prospects, citing a lack of support despite her being banned from running in 2024. Instead, they support Edmundo Gonzalez, who reportedly has a clear democratic mandate to assume leadership.
U.S. lawmakers such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voiced concerns about the indefinite military presence and potential troop commitments, warning against repeating the endless wars Trump campaigned against. Internationally, nations like Russia and China have criticized the U.S. for the unilateral action, and the UN Security Council prepared to discuss the incident the following day.
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