By: Ebenezer Adu for Ghanaian News Canada
January 4, 2026 — Washington / Caracas
In a stunning and highly controversial move, the United States government has carried out a major military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and swiftly transported them to the United States to face federal charges.
The operation, launched in the pre-dawn hours of January 3, 2026, involved extensive airstrikes and precision strikes across northern Venezuela, including the capital Caracas.
Maduro and Flores were detained during the assault and flown to New York, where they are set to face charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine trafficking that date back to a U.S. indictment from 2020.
Operation Absolute Resolve’ and the U.S. Plan
President Donald J. Trump described the mission dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve as a decisive blow against narcotics trafficking and corruption in the Americas. Speaking from Florida, Trump declared that the United States would temporarily “run” Venezuela until a stable and “judicious transition” to new leadership could be orchestrated.
Trump also highlighted Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, indicating that U.S. oil companies would play a role in rebuilding and operating the country’s critical energy infrastructure.
The president hinted at potential future deployments of U.S. forces if necessary to maintain stability but said this would depend on cooperation from Venezuelan leadership.
International and Regional Backlash
The military strikes and subsequent capture of Maduro sparked immediate global condemnation. Critics argue the U.S. action violates international law and Venezuelan sovereignty, and could set a dangerous precedent for unilateral intervention by powerful states.
China issued a particularly strong rebuke, calling the raid a violation of international standards and warning of threats to regional peace. Russia, Cuba, and several Latin American governments also condemned the operation as an act of aggression.
The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency session to review the crisis, with the U.N. spokesperson expressing deep alarm over the escalation and emphasizing respect for international law.
Political Fallout in the United States
Domestically, the operation has triggered fierce debate. Supporters of the Trump administration praise the decisive action against a long-criticized authoritarian leader, while opponents including some members of Congress have questioned the constitutional authority for such a strike, especially without prior congressional approval.
Critics also warn that direct U.S. involvement in Venezuelan governance and control over natural resources could inflame tensions both at home and abroad, drawing parallels to past controversial interventions in Panama and the Middle East.
Venezuela’s Response
In Venezuela, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has declared herself interim president under Venezuelan constitutional provisions, denouncing Maduro’s capture as an illegal “kidnapping.” She has urged citizens to resist foreign interference and maintain national unity, even as details about Maduro’s condition remain limited.
Scenes across the region have been mixed, with some Venezuelans celebrating Maduro’s removal and others protesting the U.S. incursion.
What Comes Next
As Maduro prepares to make an initial court appearance in the United States, international diplomats, regional leaders, and legal experts are bracing for what could become one of the most consequential geopolitical confrontations in the Western Hemisphere in decades. With the U.N. now involved and major powers weighing in, the ramifications of this operation are still unfolding.
