Duke Teynor

Good morning, this is Summer reporting on a special news report on the unprecedented events unfolding in Venezuela as of January 4, 2026.

In a stunning development that has shaken the world, U.S. forces launched a large-scale military strike on Venezuela early on January 3, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. President Donald Trump announced the operation's success, stating that Maduro and Flores were "captured and flown out of the country" and are now in U.S. custody in New York, facing serious federal charges.

The operation, codenamed "Absolute Resolve," began in the pre-dawn hours with precision airstrikes targeting military sites across northern Venezuela, including the country's largest military complex, Fuerte Tiuna, in Caracas. Explosions rocked the capital around 2 a.m. local time, causing fires, power outages, and disruptions. Reports indicate at least 40 Venezuelan military personnel and civilians were killed, with two U.S. soldiers injured but no American fatalities.

U.S. Special Forces, including Delta Force commandos, then conducted a swift raid on a presidential compound, capturing Maduro and Flores in an operation lasting just over two hours. The couple was first transported to a U.S. Navy ship offshore before being flown to New York. Photos and video released by U.S. authorities show a handcuffed Maduro being escorted by DEA agents upon arrival at Stewart Air National Guard Base and later transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Maduro is expected to appear in Manhattan federal court as soon as Monday on updated charges from a long-standing indictment, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and related offenses. Attorney General Pam Bondi unsealed a superseding indictment alleging Maduro's leadership of the "Cartel de los Soles," a criminal network accused of flooding the U.S. with tons of cocaine over decades.

President Trump, speaking at a press conference from Mar-a-Lago, praised the mission as a "brilliant operation" and declared that the United States will temporarily "run" Venezuela to ensure a "safe, proper, and judicious transition." He emphasized revitalizing the country's vast oil reserves—the world's largest at over 300 billion barrels—stating that major American oil companies will invest billions to repair degraded infrastructure and "get the oil flowing again" for global markets. Trump indicated no immediate plans for large-scale ground troops but warned he would not hesitate if needed to stabilize the situation and prevent Maduro loyalists from regrouping.

On the ground in Venezuela, the country has declared a national emergency. The Supreme Court has named Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim leader, and she has issued defiant statements condemning the U.S. action as "aggression" while calling for resistance. State media broadcasts pro-Maduro rallies, and armed civilian groups known as colectivos are patrolling streets in Caracas, which remain tense but relatively calm so far. Borders have been temporarily closed, and power outages continue to affect daily life amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The opposition, including Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado and exiled leader Edmundo González Urrutia—widely regarded as the legitimate winner of the disputed 2024 election—has called for the military to support a democratic transition.

International reactions are sharply divided. Russia, China, Cuba, Iran, Mexico, Brazil, and many others have condemned the operation as a violation of sovereignty and international law, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres calling it a "dangerous precedent" and scheduling an emergency Security Council meeting. Celebrations have erupted among Venezuelan diaspora communities in Miami, Santiago, and elsewhere, while anti-U.S. protests have occurred in cities like Paris and New York.

This marks the most direct U.S. intervention in Latin America since the 1989 Panama invasion, raising questions about legality, regional stability, and long-term implications for oil markets and global relations.

The situation remains highly fluid, with risks of resistance from Maduro supporters or broader instability. We'll continue to monitor developments closely.

This has been your special report on the crisis in Venezuela. Stay tuned for updates.

Early January 3, U.S. forces launched airstrikes on military targets in Caracas and elsewhere, followed by a special forces raid that captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. They were flown to New York, where Maduro faces federal narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons charges from an updated indictment.

President Trump announced the operation's success, stating the U.S. will temporarily "run" Venezuela for a "safe, proper, and judicious transition." He highlighted plans to revitalize the country's vast oil reserves with American companies investing billions to restore infrastructure.

In Venezuela, a national emergency was declared. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has been named interim leader, condemning the action as aggression. Streets in Caracas are tense but calm, with pro-Maduro rallies and armed patrols.

The opposition, including María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, calls for a democratic transition.

Global reactions are divided: Strong condemnations from Russia, China, Cuba, Iran, and many Latin American nations as a sovereignty violation. The UN Secretary-General called it a "dangerous precedent," with a Security Council meeting scheduled. Celebrations among Venezuelan diaspora; protests elsewhere.

The situation is fluid, with risks of instability. Maduro is detained in Brooklyn ahead of a court appearance.

We'll keep monitoring this developing story. Stay tuned.

The U.S. military operation began in the early hours of January 3, 2026, around 2:00 a.m. local time in Venezuela, as part of a broader mission to capture President Nicolás Maduro.

The strikes paved the way for U.S. Special Forces (including Delta Force) to raid a presidential compound, capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. They were transferred to the USS Iwo Jima before being flown to New York for federal charges.

This marked a major escalation after months of U.S. pressure, including boat strikes and oil tanker seizures. The situation remains tense, with global condemnations focusing on sovereignty concerns.

The U.S. military operation in Venezuela has elicited sharply divided global responses, with widespread condemnation focusing on violations of sovereignty and international law, cautious or mixed views from some allies, limited support from right-leaning leaders, and celebrations among Venezuelan diaspora communities.

The divide largely aligns with ideological lines: leftist governments and allies strongly oppose, while anti-Maduro figures and diaspora rejoice. The situation remains tense, with risks of further escalation highlighted by many leaders.

The main Venezuelan opposition figures have largely welcomed Nicolás Maduro's removal, viewing it as a long-awaited step toward freedom and democracy, though they emphasize that power should transfer to their elected representatives rather than U.S. oversight or regime holdovers.

Overall, the opposition sees the intervention as enabling their 2024 electoral mandate but insists on a Venezuelan-led democratic transition, not U.S. administration or deals with Maduro loyalists. The situation remains fluid as of January 4.

Latin American responses to the U.S. airstrikes and capture of Nicolás Maduro are deeply divided along ideological lines. Most leftist governments strongly condemned the action as a violation of sovereignty and international law, while right-wing leaders celebrated it as a blow against authoritarianism and narcotrafficking.

The split highlights longstanding regional tensions over U.S. influence, with many invoking historical interventions while others prioritize ending Maduro's rule. The situation remains tense as of January 4.

President Donald Trump has explicitly stated that a key objective of the U.S. intervention in Venezuela is to revitalize and exploit the country's massive oil reserves—the world's largest at over 303 billion barrels.

The U.S. will not directly nationalize or seize the oil fields but will exercise temporary oversight during the transition period while the country is "run" by the U.S. The primary mechanism involves partnering with major American oil companies to rebuild and operate the industry.

Analysts estimate rebuilding could cost tens to hundreds of billions and take years to a decade due to decades of neglect, sanctions, and mismanagement. Production has plummeted from over 3 million barrels/day in the early 2000s to far less today.

The plan is fluid and depends on political stability, security for personnel, and negotiations during the U.S.-managed transition. Trump has warned of further military action if needed to secure the process.

This approach echoes historical U.S. involvement in Venezuela's oil sector (pre-nationalization) but has drawn criticism as resource-driven imperialism.

Venezuela's economic crisis, ongoing since the mid-2010s, is one of the worst peacetime collapses in modern history. The economy has contracted by roughly 75-80% since 2013, with GDP shrinking from a peak of over $460 billion in 2012 to around $100-140 billion in recent estimates (IMF and other sources project ~$109 billion for 2025). Per capita GDP has fallen from ~$15,500 to ~$2,500.

The crisis worsened dramatically after the January 3, 2026, U.S. intervention and capture of Nicolás Maduro, adding uncertainty amid power outages, border closures, and potential disruptions to oil flows.

The crisis stems from a combination of factors, with broad consensus among economists blaming primary internal issues:

Government supporters often cite an "economic war" by the U.S. and elites, but most independent analyses emphasize domestic policy failures under Hugo Chávez (1999-2013) and Nicolás Maduro (2013-2026).

Partial stabilization occurred in recent years via limited reforms (e.g., easing controls, partial Chevron operations), but deep structural problems persist. The post-Maduro transition could offer opportunities for recovery through oil revitalization, but risks short-term chaos and long-term challenges like rebuilding infrastructure (estimated $58+ billion for oil alone).