US Assumes Temporary Governance of Venezuela Following Military Capture of Maduro

Caracas, Saturday, 3 January 2026.
In a decisive geopolitical shift, U.S. military forces executed a complex operation early Saturday, January 3, 2026, resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. President Trump subsequently announced that the United States will temporarily administer Venezuela’s governance to ensure a stable transition of power, while Maduro faces narco-terrorism charges in New York. Crucially for global markets, the administration signaled a strategic pivot to directly manage Venezuela’s energy sector—home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves—with plans for major U.S. oil companies to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure. While the operation was executed without U.S. casualties, the move has ignited significant diplomatic controversy, drawing sharp condemnation from China, France, and Russia regarding the violation of national sovereignty.