United States Claims Capture and Extradition of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro After Operation in Caracas
- January 3, 2026
- Comments: 0
- Posted by: Alexánder González Rojas
Washington/Caracas — January 3, 2026. US President Donald Trump asserted on Saturday that US forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and “removed” them from the country following an early morning military operation involving attacks in and around Caracas. Highly reputable international media outlets (Reuters, AP, The Guardian, WSJ) reported on the announcement, describing explosions and damage to non-oil infrastructure, while the Venezuelan government denounced the operation as an act of aggression and demanded proof of the president’s whereabouts.
What is known so far
The capture and transfer : The central version comes from Trump’s public announcement and has been replicated by major newsrooms with correspondents and verification standards. The Guardian +2 The Wall Street Journal +2
Legal context : The incident is linked to federal charges in the U.S. related to drug trafficking/narcoterrorism; AP reports that the Justice Department released information about charges/indictments in New York as part of this escalation. AP News +1
Venezuelan reaction and perspective : Venezuelan authorities describe the action as a violation of sovereignty and demand proof of life . Several governments and international actors condemned the operation or called for clarification of the facts. The Guardian +2 Reuters +2
Damage and energy environment : Reuters reports that PDVSA oil facilities were not damaged , although there was severe damage to the port of La Guaira (not dedicated to crude oil exports). Reuters
What remains to be independently confirmed: operational details (who exactly participated, under what legal framework), the extradition itinerary, the physical condition of Maduro and Flores, and verifiable evidence (images/full official documents) beyond government statements and initial reports.
International reactions: condemnation, caution, and specific support
The news triggered a wave of reactions. Reuters reports that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called it an “unacceptable line” and demanded a response from the UN. In
Europe, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK did not participate and called for establishing the facts before making definitive judgments, as domestic political debate grew over legality and precedent. A summary of global reactions (including those from Mexico, China, France, and divergent positions within the EU and Argentina) was compiled by Axios
.
Background: sustained pressure and capture reward
Prior to the operation, the U.S. had increased pressure on Maduro with a reward of up to $50 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction, according to an official statement from the State Department (Narcotics Rewards Program). U.S. Government.
What could happen now?
In the immediate future, the focus shifts to:
the judicial process in the U.S. (jurisdiction, formal reading of charges and access to defense),
The succession/continuity of power in Venezuela in a scenario of internal conflict.
the regional impact (migration, border security and diplomatic response in the OAS/UN).
