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2d ago

U.S. Captures Maduro and Flies Him to New York, Upending Venezuela's Power Balance

The operation has set off a contested transition that the White House says it intends to steer.

Government supporters hold photographs of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez and President Nicolas Maduro, after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. has struck Venezuela and captured Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela January 3, 2026. REUTERS/Maxwell Briceno
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Simpatizantes chavistas levantan carteles de Chávez y Maduro este sábado en Caracas.
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Overview

  • U.S. authorities announced Nicolás Maduro was detained and taken to U.S. territory, with U.S. media identifying his arrival at Stewart Airport in New York via broadcast footage.
  • President Donald Trump declared plans for a U.S.-led transitional arrangement in Venezuela and cast the move as a liberation, referencing the country’s oil wealth.
  • The removal has opened immediate uncertainty over control of the executive in Caracas, as chavista figures including Delcy Rodríguez and Diosdado Cabello position for influence.
  • Opposition reactions shifted from celebration to unease after Trump dismissed María Corina Machado’s leadership prospects and did not back Edmundo González Urrutia, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Machado but emphasized short-term constraints.
  • The shake-up follows years of authoritarian consolidation and crisis, with international bodies reporting mass detentions after the disputed 2024 vote and the opposition claiming González Urrutia won before seeking refuge in Spain.