Hours following a bold military operation conducted by the U.S., Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was removed from power and taken out of the country. Soon after, his vice-president demanded Maduro’s release, declaring him as the rightful leader of the nation.
Early on Saturday, Caracas experienced multiple explosions accompanied by low-flying aircraft. The Venezuelan government accused the U.S. of launching an attack on both civilian and military installations, labeling it as an “imperialist attack” and urging citizens to demonstrate on the streets.
Maduro and his wife were seized from their residence on a military base and were initially transported to a U.S. warship before being flown to New York City. They are set to face prosecution based on a Justice Department indictment implicating them in a narco-terrorism scheme.
Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez disclosed that there were casualties among Venezuelan civilians and military personnel. As per Venezuelan law, Rodriguez would assume power in Maduro’s absence; however, she clarified during a televised appearance that she had no intentions of taking over.
Rodriguez emphasized the release of Maduro and asserted his position as president, stating, “There is only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicolás Maduro Moros.”
Contrary to claims made by Trump, there was no televised swearing-in ceremony of Rodriguez as acting president, and she did not mention any political transition during her speech. She condemned the actions against Venezuela as a violation of international law.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado suggested that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez should assume power, citing his victory in the 2024 presidential election. The Venezuelan constitution mandates a new election within a month in case of the president’s absence, leading to debates among experts on the applicability of the succession scenario in this unique situation.
Trump declared that the U.S. government would assist in governing Venezuela, despite no immediate evidence of such involvement. He stated that the country would be managed until a safe and proper transition could occur, emphasizing the success of the operation as a warning to those threatening American interests.
This high-stakes operation concludes a lengthy pressure campaign by the Trump administration on Venezuela, culminating in a decisive move for regime change. The legal basis for the operation remains unclear, as the administration justified it as crucial to combat drug trafficking and announced plans to revamp the country’s oil sector and facilitate oil exports to other nations.