US military operation in Venezuela captures Nicolás Maduro

On January 3, 2026, the United States conducted a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Following the intervention, Donald Trump indicated that the United States government would administer Venezuela during a transition period.

The operation drew international condemnation and raised significant concerns within the United Nations regarding the precedent it established. Discussions have emerged regarding whether Venezuela should have responded with conventional warfare, though analysts suggest such a conflict would have resulted in a certain military defeat and potential national catastrophe due to the vast technological and logistical superiority of the United States military.