U.S. President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown out of Venezuela following what he described as a “large-scale U.S. military strike.”
The dramatic operation has triggered global reactions, celebrations among Venezuelans abroad, and condemnation from several world powers.
According to U.S. officials speaking to American media, the operation was carried out by Delta Force, the U.S. Army’s elite special operations unit. The mission follows months of heightened U.S. military activity in the Caribbean region.
Maduro to Face U.S. Criminal Charges
A Republican senator said Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed lawmakers that Maduro will face criminal prosecution in the United States, where he has been under federal indictment since 2020 on charges including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons offences. Maduro has consistently denied the allegations.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi later confirmed that both Maduro and his wife would “soon face the full wrath of American justice on U.S. soil.” She stated that the case is being handled in the Southern District of New York, the same jurisdiction responsible for Maduro’s earlier indictment. Flores had not previously been charged.
Vice President Vance Praises Operation
U.S. Vice President JD Vance praised the mission, calling it a “truly impressive operation” and stating that Maduro had been offered “multiple off-ramps” before military action was taken.
“Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says,” Vance wrote, adding that he believes the operation was lawful due to Maduro’s outstanding U.S. indictments.
Celebrations Erupt Among Venezuelans in Florida
News of Maduro’s capture sparked emotional celebrations among Venezuelans in South Florida, particularly in the city of Doral, home to a large Venezuelan diaspora.
Crowds gathered outside El Arepazo restaurant, waving flags, chanting “Libertad,” and singing both the U.S. and Venezuelan national anthems. Many described the moment as one they had waited decades to witness.
Global Reaction and International Condemnation
The operation drew a swift international response.
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European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for restraint and emphasized the need to respect international law and the UN Charter, while noting that the EU has long questioned Maduro’s legitimacy.
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Russia condemned the action as “armed aggression” and called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
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Iran described the strikes as a “flagrant violation” of Venezuelan sovereignty.
Opposition Response and Political Context
A spokesperson for Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado declined to comment on the arrest. Machado, who has been in hiding since the disputed 2024 Venezuelan presidential election, previously expressed strong support for increased U.S. pressure on Maduro’s government.
Rising U.S. Military Pressure in the Region
The capture comes after a sustained U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers, and recent U.S. strikes on vessels Washington claims were involved in drug trafficking.
President Trump has previously stated that U.S. forces targeted drug-loading docks and trafficking routes, framing the campaign as part of a broader effort to combat international narcotics networks.
What Happens Next
While U.S. officials say they anticipate no further military action inside Venezuela, the political and regional fallout remains uncertain. Maduro’s capture marks one of the most dramatic interventions in Latin American politics in decades and could reshape Venezuela’s future as well as U.S. relations with global powers.
