Newsroom, January 04, 2026: US military conducted a large-scale operation early January 3, targeting sites in Caracas including military bases. President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were detained and flown out, with US officials citing long-standing narco-terrorism allegations.
President Donald Trump stated the US would temporarily administer Venezuela and access its oil reserves for global sale, framing the action as part of anti-drug efforts.
Reactions vary widely. Allies like Israel and Argentina hailed it as a blow against dictatorship, while Brazil, Mexico, Russia, China, and many Latin American nations condemned the strikes as violations of sovereignty and international law.
The UN Secretary-General called it a dangerous precedent, urging respect for the UN Charter. Venezuela's Constitutional Chamber named Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez as acting president.
