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4 clusters · 9 sources · 59 days · First seen · Last updated
US military operation and capture of Nicolás Maduro
Overview
In late 2025, intelligence reports indicated that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro dismissed military warnings regarding a potential United States operation. According to documents cited by Infobae, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López recommended increasing military operational levels and suspending holiday leave during a high-level meeting on December 28, 2025. Maduro and other political figures reportedly downplayed the threat, with Maduro expressing surprise at the recommendation after receiving unofficial assurances that the United States would not target Venezuelan institutions or his family.
On January 3, 2026, United States special forces conducted a military operation in Caracas, Venezuela, known as ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’. The mission resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and the deaths of several of Maduro’s bodyguards. The Trump administration cited the Monroe Doctrine as justification for the intervention, asserting that the Americas should remain within the U.S. sphere of influence. Following the capture, Donald Trump indicated that the United States government would administer Venezuela during a transition period.
On January 5, 2026, Maduro and Flores appeared in a New York court to plead not guilty to charges involving drugs and weapons. During this period, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with President Trump at the White House.
The operation drew international condemnation and raised concerns within the United Nations regarding the precedent established by the action. The sudden shift in leadership led Delcy Rodríguez to assume power, supported by Jorge Rodríguez, Diosdado Cabello, and Vladimir Padrino López. The intervention has created geopolitical tension with China, a major trading partner of Venezuela, and has raised questions regarding the status of Russian and Chinese military equipment previously acquired by the Venezuelan government.
Entities
Nicolás Maduro · Cilia Flores · Donald Trump · United States · Jorge Rodríguez
Timeline
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[INTERNATIONAL] 2 sourcesUnited States military action in Venezuela leads to capture of Nicolás Maduro
In January 2026, the US conducted a large scale strike in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, who subsequently pleaded not guilty to charges in New York.
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[INTERNATIONAL] 2 sourcesUnited States captures Nicolás Maduro in Venezuelan military operation
U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’ on January 3, 2026, sparking geopolitical tensions with China and shifting regional power.
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[INTERNATIONAL] 2 sourcesUS military operation in Venezuela captures Nicolás Maduro
Following a US military operation on January 3, 2026, that captured Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, debates continue regarding the implications of the intervention and the potential for national catastrophe.
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[INTERNATIONAL] 3 sourcesMaduro dismissed military warnings of U.S. operation
Reports suggest Nicolás Maduro ignored military warnings from Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López regarding a potential U.S. operation, opting instead to rely on assurances from intermediaries.
Sources
contrahegemoniaweb.com.ar · cosmoschronicle.com · cubanosporelmundo.com · entornointeligente.com · europesays.com · krdo.com · newtrierpoliticaljournal.org · nyfights.com · orinocotribune.com
This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history