What's happened
The US has conducted a precise operation to arrest Maduro's regime leader, Delcy Rodríguez, aiming to restore order and push for elections. The move is driven by concerns over Venezuela's oil resources, regime stability, and regional influence, with a focus on ending drug trafficking and restoring democracy.
What's behind the headline?
The US intervention in Venezuela signals a strategic shift towards asserting influence over Latin America's energy resources and combating regional authoritarianism. The operation's precision and minimal troop deployment reflect a focus on targeted actions rather than full-scale invasion. While the removal of Maduro's regime is portrayed as a step toward democracy, the US's focus on oil and regime change reveals underlying geopolitical motives. The regime's entrenched networks of military and paramilitary actors will resist, and the transition will require careful management to avoid chaos. The US aims to leverage Venezuela's democratic institutions and surrounding democracies to rebuild stability, but the influence of external actors like Cuba and Russia complicates this effort. The move underscores the importance of energy security and regional influence for the US, with potential long-term impacts on Latin American geopolitics and drug trafficking routes. The success of this operation will depend on the subsequent political process and regional cooperation, with the risk of instability if mismanaged.
What the papers say
The New York Times highlights the incoherence and conflicting messages from the US administration regarding regime change, emphasizing the strategic ambiguity and regional resistance. The Guardian provides historical context, illustrating Venezuela's dependence on oil and the long-standing political and economic crises exacerbated by external interventions. The New York Times also notes the US's focus on ending drug trafficking and restoring the Monroe Doctrine, framing the operation as a broader effort to reassert US influence in the hemisphere. The NY Post emphasizes the precision and limited US military involvement, portraying the operation as a successful effort to remove Maduro's criminal regime and restore democracy, while also highlighting the regional and geopolitical stakes involved.
How we got here
Venezuela's economy has long been dependent on oil, with its vast reserves fueling booms and crises since the 1920s. Political instability, collapsing oil prices, and US interventions have weakened Maduro's regime, which is now heavily influenced by Cuba, Russia, Iran, and drug cartels. The recent US operation aims to shift this dynamic and promote a legitimate government.
Go deeper
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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.
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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
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He played a key role