Overview
- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was seized by U.S. special forces and is now in detention in New York to face charges including conspiracy to commit drug terrorism.
- The Supreme Court in Caracas named Vice President Delcy Rodríguez interim leader, she rejected Washington’s action as unlawful, and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino activated forces for national defense.
- President Donald Trump said the United States would temporarily run Venezuela and urged U.S. companies to rebuild its oil industry, though he offered no operational details.
- U.S. officials said about 150 aircraft supported the operation and reported no U.S. deaths, while Venezuelan authorities claimed dozens of military and civilian casualties.
- China and Russia condemned the move as a violation of international law, the UN voiced deep concern with a Security Council session set for Monday, European leaders responded cautiously, Germany issued a travel warning, and some Western figures including Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer welcomed Maduro’s removal.