Operation Absolute Resolve: U.S. forces capture Nicolás Maduro in lightning strike

In the most significant American military intervention in Latin America in decades, U.S. special operations forces extracted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife from Caracas, signaling a total collapse of the socialist administration.

Under direct orders from President Donald Trump, a massive U.S. strike package codenamed “Operation Absolute Resolve” descended on the Venezuelan capital in the early hours of Saturday (January 3, 2026). Within hours, Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores were captured, handcuffed, and flown to New York City to face federal narco-terrorism charges. President Trump, speaking from Mar-a-Lago, called the mission a “brilliant success,” saying the U.S. would oversee the country until a “proper transition” is set up.

The operation was the result of months of secret planning, including building a full-scale replica of Maduro’s “fortress” safe house for U.S. Delta Force operators to practice the assault.

The extraction has triggered a diplomatic firestorm, with close Venezuelan allies China, Russia, and Iran condemning the “state-sponsored kidnapping.” But domestic focus has shifted to the future of Venezuela’s vast energy reserves.

• Interim Leadership: Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president on Monday (January 5). While she initially criticized the “illegitimate aggression,” she later issued a more conciliatory statement inviting the U.S. to work together on an “agenda of cooperation.”
• Trump’s Vision: President Trump has been clear about the objective, saying U.S. companies would take control of the nation’s oil infrastructure. “It’s going to make a lot of money,” Trump noted, suggesting oil revenues would reimburse Americans “forced out” by the previous regime.
• Federal Indictment: Maduro and Flores were arraigned in a Manhattan federal court on Monday, where they pleaded not guilty to 2020 charges of narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking.

“Last night and early today… the United States armed forces conducted an extraordinary military operation… to bring outlaw dictator Nicolás Maduro to justice. This is America first; this is peace through strength.” President Donald Trump

While the Supreme Court and military have formally recognized Delcy Rodríguez’s authority, the region remains on high alert. The U.S. has kept a 15,000-strong force in the Caribbean, with Trump warning a “second strike” is possible if the remaining administration doesn’t comply with Washington’s demands. For now, Caracas remains in a fragile state of transition, with the 90-day interim period likely to decide if the country moves toward a democratic election or stays under effective U.S. military quarantine.

Also Read / ‘In the Name of the People’: Delcy Rodríguez sworn in as Venezuela’s Interim President.