The United States has said it will temporarily take control of Venezuela and tap the country’s vast oil reserves after a military operation that led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro.
US President Donald Trump spoke hours after the overnight operation that removed Maduro from power and flew him out of Venezuela, saying Washington would “run the country” until a transition is put in place.
“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said while addressing reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
He added that the US planned to fix Venezuela’s oil infrastructure and sell “large amounts” of oil to other countries.
The operation, carried out early Saturday, involved air and ground forces and was described by US officials as a large-scale strike. At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported in Caracas around 2 a.m. local time.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized from their residence on a military base and taken aboard a US warship before being flown to the United States. A plane carrying the deposed leader landed near New York City around 4:30 p.m., where he was taken into federal custody.
Videos shared by US government accounts showed Maduro smiling as he was escorted by agents of the US Drug Enforcement Administration. He is expected to be held in a federal detention facility in Brooklyn while awaiting trial.
The US Justice Department released a new indictment accusing Maduro and his wife of participating in a “narco-terrorism conspiracy,” describing his government as “corrupt” and “illegitimate.”
Trump defended the operation, saying it was aimed at reducing drug trafficking into the US and protecting American lives.
“This extremely successful operation should serve as a warning to anyone who would threaten American sovereignty or endanger American lives,” he said.
In Venezuela, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez condemned the action and demanded Maduro’s release, insisting he remained the country’s rightful leader.
“There is only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicolás Maduro Moros,” Rodríguez said on state television.
However, Venezuela’s Supreme Court later ordered Rodríguez to assume the role of interim president, despite her earlier statement that she did not intend to take power.
The US move has raised serious legal questions. The operation was carried out without approval from the US Congress, and legal experts have questioned its legality under international law.
A United Nations Security Council meeting has been scheduled for Monday following an emergency request by Colombia to discuss the US action in Venezuela.
On the streets of Caracas, reactions were mixed. Some residents protested Maduro’s removal, while others celebrated. Government supporters marched through parts of the capital, tearing American flags and chanting in support of the former president.
“Maduro, hold on, the people are rising up,” protesters shouted at a rally in Caracas attended by the city’s mayor.
Other areas of the capital remained quiet, with some neighbourhoods experiencing power outages. A resident, Noris Prada, described the mood as fearful.
“How do I feel? Scared, like everyone,” he said. “Venezuelans woke up scared, many families couldn’t sleep.”
In Doral, Florida, home to a large Venezuelan community, crowds gathered waving Venezuelan flags and chanting “Liberty” in celebration of Maduro’s capture.
The US military said the operation lasted less than 30 minutes. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, said the mission was planned for months.
“We think, we develop, we train, we rehearse,” Caine said. “Not to get it right, but to ensure we cannot get it wrong.”
The situation remains tense as questions grow over who is now in charge of Venezuela and how long the US intends to remain involved.
