According to Trump, the operation was the result of months of preparation and coordination involving US forces and security agencies. He said the mission relied on what he called “great troops and great people,” adding that the execution reflected careful planning at every stage. When asked whether congressional authorization had been sought and what steps might follow for Venezuela, Trump said he would address those issues during a scheduled press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence.
US officials said the announcement followed a significant military buildup in the Caribbean region, described as one of the largest US deployments there in decades. In the hours before Trump’s statement, the US embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, issued an alert advising Americans in Venezuela to shelter in place, citing reports of explosions in and around the capital. Specific details were not provided. The United States has suspended operations at its embassy in Caracas since 2019.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez appeared on state-run television to dispute the US claims, saying the whereabouts of Maduro and his wife were unknown. She publicly called on Trump to provide proof of life, deepening uncertainty and tension surrounding the situation and raising questions about the circumstances of the reported capture.
The US government has pursued Maduro’s arrest for several years. In March 2020, a US court indicted him and several associates on charges related to narco-terrorism. The allegations accused Maduro of leading a criminal network that trafficked narcotics while using state institutions for protection. Last year, US authorities increased the reward for information leading to his arrest to $50 million, signaling an intensified effort to bring him into custody.
Senator Mike Lee of Utah said that following a phone call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he was informed that Maduro had been arrested by US personnel and would stand trial in the United States. Lee said Rubio indicated that no further military action inside Venezuela was anticipated now that the arrest warrant had been executed.
Lee also said the force used during the operation was intended to protect those carrying out the arrest from potential threats. He added that the action likely fell under the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the US Constitution, which allows measures to safeguard US personnel from actual or imminent danger.
The developments mark a dramatic escalation in US involvement in Venezuela and are expected to have significant political and diplomatic repercussions across the region. Officials have indicated that additional details will be released as the situation develops.
