U.S. Captures Nicolás Maduro, Divides Latin America; Trump Allies Rally

The United States conducted a dramatic military operation on January 3, 2026, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a swift assault on Caracas.

“In 2017, the first Trump administration imposed sanctions on Venezuelan oil, amid claims of a humanitarian crisis unfolding under Mr Maduro's leadership”

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President Donald Trump announced the operation as part of his administration's maximum pressure campaign against Maduro, who faces allegations of drug trafficking and election rigging.

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The attack involved over 150 aircraft launching from bases across the Western Hemisphere, targeting military and political installations including the Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, Port La Guaira, Higuerote Airport, and Fuerte Tiuna military complex.

Maduro was seized from his high-security compound at approximately 2 a.m. local time and transported to New York where he will face federal charges related to narco-terrorism and drug trafficking conspiracies.

The operation represents the largest U.S. military intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama.

The U.S. operation sparked widespread condemnation across Latin America, with multiple governments denouncing it as a violation of international law and an assault on regional sovereignty.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, one of the first to react, condemned the strikes as an "aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America" and announced military deployment to the border.

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Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that the "bombings on Venezuelan territory and the capture of its president cross an unacceptable line," warning it could represent "the first step toward a world of violence, chaos, and instability, where the law of the strongest prevails over multilateralism."

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum cited the UN Charter, declaring that military actions "put regional stability at great risk" and emphasizing that "the history of Latin America is clear and conclusive: intervention has never brought democracy."

Chilean President Gabriel Boric stressed that "respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity are red lines that should not be crossed under any circumstance," while Cuba's Miguel Díaz-Canel labeled the action "state terrorism" against "Our America."

These responses reflect a broad consensus among Latin American nations that the operation violated fundamental principles of non-intervention and peaceful dispute resolution.

Despite widespread condemnation, several of Trump's key allies in Latin America rallied to support the operation, viewing it as a decisive step against authoritarianism and narco-terrorism.

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Argentina's President Javier Milei celebrated the capture as "a decisive step forward" against narco-terrorism and oppression, suggesting it could "open a new chapter" for rule of law, human rights, and democracy.

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele posted a photograph of a captured Maduro and criticized a U.S. senator who questioned the operation's legality, demonstrating strong backing for Trump's actions.

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa voiced support for "actions that allow the Venezuelan population to recover democratic institutions and rule of law" while specifically targeting "narco chavistas" and organized crime.

Paraguay's President Santiago Peña declared that Maduro's downfall "can only be good news" for the region.

Guyana's President Irfaan Ali welcomed "the leadership of the President of the United States in reaffirming shared commitments to freedom, democracy, and regional security," announcing troop deployments to the Venezuela border.

Nobel Prize-winning Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado also celebrated the action, stating "The United States government has fulfilled its promise to enforce the law" and thanking Trump for his "firmness and determination."

The operation triggered significant international reactions beyond Latin America, with major powers expressing alarm over the precedent set by the capture of a sitting foreign leader.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for "calm and restraint by all actors" while emphasizing that "under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected."

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However, she also noted that "the EU has repeatedly stated that Maduro lacks legitimacy" and has advocated for a peaceful transition.

Russia strongly condemned the action as an "act of armed aggression against Venezuela," with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressing "firm solidarity with the people of Venezuela in the face of armed aggression."

China characterized the operation as a "blatant use of force against a sovereign state" that "gravely violates international law" and threatens regional peace.

Iran's Foreign Ministry denounced it as an "evident violation of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter" and called for an immediate international response.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a brief statement describing the U.S. military action as setting "a dangerous precedent" and calling for "all actors in Venezuela to engage in inclusive dialogue."

These reactions underscored the international community's concern about the operation's implications for global norms of sovereignty and non-intervention.

The capture of Maduro has raised immediate legal questions about the operation's justification and potential consequences for Venezuela's future.

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U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Maduro and his wife would face trial in New York on charges of involvement in narco-terrorism, with a fresh indictment issued on January 4.

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Trump stated that the United States will "run the country until we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," though legal experts raised concerns about this assertion.

The UN Security Council, acting on an emergency request from Colombia, planned to hold a meeting on U.S. operations in Venezuela.

Lawmakers from both political parties in Congress expressed reservations, with Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes demanding an immediate briefing on "its plan to ensure stability in the region and its legal justification for this decision."

Meanwhile, Venezuela faces an uncertain political future, with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez declining to assume power and calling for Maduro's return.

The operation has created deep divisions within Venezuelan society, with supporters taking to the streets to demand Maduro's return while opponents celebrated what they saw as the dawn of freedom.

The Trump administration's actions have set a significant precedent for future U.S. interventions in the region, with Trump himself invoking the Monroe Doctrine while declaring that "American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again."