What's happened
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured in a US military operation. Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president amid protests. Maduro pleaded not guilty in US court to narco-terrorism charges, while the US signals plans to manage Venezuela's oil industry and seek cooperation.
What's behind the headline?
The US military operation in Venezuela marks a significant escalation in US interventionism, bypassing traditional diplomatic channels. The swift swearing-in of Rodríguez as interim president signals a potential shift towards a US-backed government, but her legitimacy remains contested within Venezuela. The US's focus on controlling Venezuela's oil industry and combating drug trafficking reveals a strategic interest in its energy resources and regional influence. The Venezuelan government’s response, including protests and military tensions, underscores the fragile stability. The international community faces a dilemma: support US actions or uphold sovereignty. The next weeks will determine whether Rodríguez consolidates power or faces internal resistance, with implications for regional stability and US-Venezuela relations.
What the papers say
Al Jazeera reports that Maduro and Flores were captured in a military operation, with Venezuela condemning it as illegal and Cuba reporting military casualties. The Independent highlights the swearing-in of Rodríguez and Maduro's court appearance, emphasizing the political tension and US strategy to influence Venezuela's oil sector. Both sources underline the ongoing tension between US intervention and Venezuelan sovereignty, with Al Jazeera focusing on the military and legal fallout, while The Independent emphasizes the political and diplomatic developments.
How we got here
The crisis escalated after the US military conducted a pre-dawn operation to seize Maduro and Flores, citing narco-terrorism charges. Maduro's government condemned the operation as illegal, while opposition figures and international actors debated its legality and implications. Rodríguez, a Maduro loyalist, was sworn in as interim president, and the US indicated it would manage the country's oil industry and seek policy changes through sanctions.
Go deeper
More on these topics
-
Marco Antonio Rubio is an American attorney and politician currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Florida. A Republican, Rubio previously served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
-
Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro is a Venezuelan lawyer and politician. She is married to the President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro, making her the First Lady.
-
Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez (born 18 May 1969) is a Venezuelan lawyer, diplomat, and politician who has served as the acting president of Venezuela since 3 January 2026, after the United States captured and de facto removed President Nicolás Maduro f
-
Nicolás Maduro Moros is a Venezuelan politician serving as president of Venezuela since 2013. His presidency has been disputed by Juan Guaidó since January 2019, although Maduro is the real president.
-
Jorge Rodríguez may refer to: