What's happened
On January 3, 2026, the US launched a large-scale military strike on Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The US, led by President Donald Trump, announced it would govern Venezuela temporarily during a political transition. The operation followed months of US pressure, including attacks on alleged drug-smuggling vessels and sanctions. The move has drawn widespread international condemnation for violating Venezuelan sovereignty and international law.
What's behind the headline?
US Military Intervention in Venezuela: A Strategic and Legal Quagmire
The US operation to capture Nicolás Maduro marks a significant escalation in American interventionism in Latin America, reminiscent of past actions like the 1989 Panama invasion. While framed as a campaign against narcotics trafficking and to restore democracy, the strike blatantly violates international law, including the UN Charter's prohibition on the use of force without provocation or UN Security Council approval.
Behind the Headlines: Geopolitical and Economic Motives
The Trump administration's emphasis on controlling Venezuela's vast oil reserves and infrastructure reveals economic interests underpinning the military action. Trump's promise that "very large United States oil companies" will invest in Venezuela underscores a resource-driven agenda beyond counter-narcotics.
Domestic and International Repercussions
Domestically, the bypassing of Congress to authorize military action raises constitutional questions and bipartisan criticism. Internationally, allies like Russia, Cuba, and Iran condemned the strike as imperial aggression, while regional leaders called for diplomatic responses. This intervention risks destabilizing Latin America and undermining multilateral norms.
Forecasting the Aftermath
The US plans to "run the country" temporarily, but the political vacuum and legitimacy crisis could fuel unrest. The opposition's unclear role and Maduro's allies' potential resistance complicate the transition. The operation sets a precedent for unilateral regime change, likely provoking geopolitical tensions and challenging US credibility on international law.
Impact on Readers
While geographically distant, this event signals a shift in US foreign policy with implications for global stability and international norms. It highlights the risks of executive overreach and the fragility of sovereignty in an era of aggressive interventionism.
What the papers say
David Smith in The Guardian provides a detailed account of the military operation, quoting Trump describing the capture of Maduro and the US's intent to control Venezuela's oil industry: "We’re gonna be very strongly involved in it... we have the greatest oil companies in the world." Al Jazeera offers a critical perspective, highlighting legal expert Claire Finkelstein's condemnation of the strikes as "an illegal use of force [and] a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty," and noting widespread international criticism including from Brazil's President Lula da Silva and the UN special rapporteur on human rights. The Scotsman draws parallels to the 1989 US invasion of Panama, emphasizing the scale and surprise of the operation, while The Times of Israel and Sky News focus on the immediate military details and the Venezuelan government's response, including the declaration of a state of emergency and calls for mobilization. The Independent and SBS report on the Venezuelan government's denunciation of the attack as an attempt to seize oil and mineral resources, with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanding proof of life for Maduro. These varied accounts collectively illustrate the complexity and controversy surrounding the US intervention, balancing operational details with legal and geopolitical critiques.
How we got here
Tensions escalated after the Trump administration accused Maduro of drug trafficking and launched strikes on vessels off Venezuela's coast since September 2025. Maduro's 2024 re-election was widely disputed. The US increased military presence in the Caribbean and imposed sanctions, culminating in the January 3 military operation to remove Maduro and seize control of Venezuela's oil resources.
Go deeper
- What are the legal implications of the US strike on Venezuela?
- How will Venezuela's political landscape change after Maduro's capture?
- What has been the international response to the US intervention?
Common question
-
Why Did the US Strike Venezuela in 2026?
The recent US military strike on Venezuela in 2026 has raised many questions. Why did the US take such drastic action? What led to this conflict, and what are the potential consequences? Below, we explore the key reasons behind the strike, what happened to President Maduro, and what might come next in this tense situation.
More on these topics
-
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
-
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.
-
Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many small islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea.
-
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.
-
Caracas, officially Santiago de León de Caracas, abbreviated as CCS, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas.
-
Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego is a Colombian politician, ex guerrilla member and a presidential candidate who previously served as mayor of Bogotá. A left-wing politician, Petro was a member of the revolutionary group M-19 in the 1980s.
-
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.
-
The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.