Overview
- U.S. forces conducted large-scale strikes in Caracas and captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, transporting them to New York to face criminal charges.
- President Donald Trump said the U.S. will run Venezuela until a safe transition occurs and plans to take control of the country’s oil business for sale abroad.
- Anthony Albanese said Australia is monitoring developments, urging dialogue and diplomacy and supporting a peaceful, democratic transition that reflects Venezuelans’ will.
- Australia’s Smartraveller advises against travel to Venezuela, urges those already there to leave if safe, warns consular help is severely limited due to no embassy, and notes a state of emergency with an unpredictable security situation.
- International responses vary, with UN legal concerns and UK support for a transition, while Australia also updated guidance for Colombia due to potential unrest and risks to foreign missions.