Overview
- U.S. forces seized Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and transferred him and his wife, Cilia Flores, to New York to face narco‑terrorism and related charges.
- Rubio described the raid as a helicopter insertion onto Venezuela’s largest military base that extracted Maduro within minutes without U.S. casualties.
- Asked why other indicted officials remain in place, Rubio said the administration prioritized the highest‑value target over simultaneous arrests.
- He reiterated that a U.S. oil quarantine remains in effect with authority to seize sanctioned tankers as a key source of leverage.
- The administration says it will judge interim Venezuelan authorities by their actions while maintaining a robust regional military posture and retaining options.