Trump US military strike Venezuela 2026: Maduro Captured as Washington Takes Control
On Jan 3, 2026, President Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro following US air strikes. The US plans to 'run' Venezuela and deploy oil companies.
The dice are cast, and the Venezuelan regime has fallen. President Donald Trump announced that the United States will "run" Venezuela following a lightning-fast military operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump US military strike Venezuela 2026: The Fall of Caracas
Speaking at a news conference on January 3, 2026, Trump confirmed that US forces bombed the capital city of Caracas and seized Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores. The President stated that the US would manage the country until a "safe, proper and judicious transition" is established, marking a massive shift in Western Hemisphere geopolitics.
The operation follows a relentless pressure campaign that saw the US seize oil tankers and conduct strikes in the Caribbean. Trump's administration has long accused Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013, of drug trafficking. The captured leader is reportedly being transferred to New York to face charges in US courts.
International Condemnation and the Oil Strategy
A key element of the announcement was the involvement of "very large United States oil companies." Trump emphasized that these firms would move into the country to fix its "badly broken" infrastructure and generate wealth for the nation. However, critics view this as a clear move to secure control over the world's largest oil reserves.
Global leaders, including Brazilian President Lula da Silva, have condemned the strike as a "flagrant violation of international law." The United Nations has also raised concerns regarding the legality of what they termed an "illegal abduction."
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