ISLAMABAD : Monitoring Desk – The US US launched strikes on Venezuela and captured its President, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores. The US sent Delta Force into the heart of the Venezuelan capital and extracted the sitting president, along with his wife, is unlike anything we have seen before. The closest comparison would be the capture of Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega, also by special forces, on this very day in 1990.
Joe Inwood of BBC reported, Both men had recently claimed victory in disputed elections, both had been accused by the US of involvement in drug trafficking and both had been preceded by significant US military build-up.
But Noriega’s capture followed a short, decisive, war between the two countries, in which Panamanian forces were quickly overwhelmed. He had taken refuge in the Vatican embassy, where he remained for 11 days. Eventually Noriega was persuaded to leave after the use of “psychological warfare” – specifically the constant playing of loud rock music, including The Clash, Van Halen and U2. He was taken back to the US, where he was convicted of drugs offences.
Details of the operation to capture Nicholas Maduro are now available from the operators themselves, but it seems to have been an operation even more ambitious in its scope – succeeding in extracting the President and his wife without the use of conventional ground forces. His fate is unclear, but one would imagine it will end in a US prison.
During the news conference, a reporter asked Donald Trump about what could generously be described as America’s spotty record when it comes to triggering, and dealing with the consequences of, regime change in foreign nations.
Trump had a simple answer. His administration, he said, has a “perfect track record of winning”.
A CIA source inside the Venezuelan government helped the US track Nicolas Maduro’s location in the lead-up to his capture by the US Army’s elite Delta Force, CBS News has learned, as first reported by NYT. The US government had offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest.
Trump says the US force went against “a heavily fortified military fortress” in the heart of Caracas to bring Maduro “to justice”. He compares it to previous military operations against Iran – including against nuclear targets.
“No nation in the world could achieve what America achieved yesterday,” he says.
All Venezuelan military capabilities were “rendered powerless” in the attack, he says.
He adds the lights of Caracas were turned off during the operation “due to a certain expertise” that America has.
Both Maduro and his wife “now face American justice” says Trump, adding they have been indicted in the southern district of New York for their “campaign of deadly narco-terrorism” against the US and its citizens.
General Dan Caine shares some details of the planning for the operation, dubbed “operation absolute resolve”.
He calls it “discreet” and “precise”, and says it required “every component” of the joint forces, including soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and others “working in unison” with intelligence agencies and law enforcement.
He adds the operation leveraged “unmatched” intelligence capabilities and “years of experience in hunting terrorists”.
Gen Caine says the “extraction” was so precise it required more than 150 aircraft all coming together in the right place and time. On the preparation work, he refers to “months” of intelligence work uncovering details about Maduro, including where he lived and what he ate.
The US military maintained “totally the element of surprise”, having dismantled and disabled Venezuelan air defence systems, says General Caine.
He says they arrived at Maduro’s compound at 01:01 ET and isolated the area. On arrival there, the helicopters “came under fire”, and they responded with “overwhelming force”, he says.
One helicopter was hit but all US aircraft have been able to return home, he says.
Maduro and his wife then “gave up” and were taken into custody by the Department of Justice, says Caine, and at 03:29 ET they boarded the USS Iwo Jima.
Trump taking questions was asked if the US running Venezuela means US troops will be on the ground. He says “we’re not afraid of boots on the ground” and the US military had “boots on the ground last night at a very high level”.
“We’re going to make sure that country is run properly,” he adds.
Trump is also asked what exact mechanism he will be using to run the country. He says “we’re designating people right now” and “we’re going to let you know who those people are”.
He is then asked who will run Venezuela. He gestures his hand towards himself and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he says “it’s largely going to be for a period time the people that are standing right behind me”.
Important points of the Presser by Donald Trump
- US to ‘run’ Venezuela: Trump says the US is “going to run” Venezuela until “a safe, proper and judicious transition” of power. He was pressed on how exactly the US would do this, but did not provide detail
- Oil infrastructure: He also says US companies will go into Venezuela to fix its oil infrastructure and “start making money for the country”
- US prepared for second attack: He says the US is prepared to stage a second attack on Venezuela, but it is probably not necessary
- A ‘partnership’: Trump then spoke of a “partnership” between the US and Venezuela, which he says will make Venezuelans “rich, independent and safe”. He referred to Maduro as an “illegitimate dictator”
- What’s next?: Maduro and his wife are being taken to New York to face drug trafficking-related charges, the US president adds. Maduro has previously denied being the leader of a drug cartel
It’s a dramatic reversal for a man who had criticised, in the past, US regime-change and nation-building efforts elsewhere in the world.
Just over two decades ago, American leaders made similar assurances about the ease – and potential benefits – of US regime change in Iraq. While every war and every nation is difference, less than a year into Trump’s second term he is taking on a monumental task – and staking his presidency on its success.
One of the most surprising things to come out of Trump’s news conference was the fact that he only mentioned the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, María Corina Machado, in response to a question by a journalist.
Asked if he had spoken to Machado, who last month was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her fight for democracy in Venezuela, he said “no”.
Trump then added that Machado “doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country” he said was needed to run Venezuela.
This will come as a shock to Machado, who just hours earlier had published a letter on social media saying that “the hour of freedom has come”. She also said that she and Edmundo González, the presidential candidate she had backed when she was barred from running for office, were “ready to enforce our mandate and take power”.
This was a reference to voting tallies collected by the oppposition during the 2024 presidential election, which suggested that González had won the election by a landslide and beaten Maduro.
Many nations, including the UK and the US, recognised González as the legitimate president-elect but Maduro, who had the backing of the army and the electoral council, was sworn in to another six year term.
Latin American Leaders responded as :
- President of Colombia Gutavo Petro says troops are being deployed to the Venezuela border and calls The OAS (Organization of American States) and the UN (United Nations) to “meet immediately”
- Chilean President Gabriel Boric shares his country’s “concern and condemnation regarding the military actions of the United States”
- Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel says his country “denounces and urgently demands the reaction of the international community against the criminal attack by the US on Venezuela”
- The president of Guyana – which has been in a long-running territorial dispute with bordering Venezuela – Irfaan Ali says the country is “monitoring the situation” and that “security forces are fully mobilised in accordance with our security plans”
- Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says: “Trinidad and Tobago continues to maintain peaceful relations with the people of Venezuela”
European leaders are saying about the US action in Venezuela;
- UK: Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the UK was not involved in the operation and he wants to speak to Trump “to establish the facts first” before commenting further
- France: President Emmanuel Macron calls for the Maduro’s 2024 opposition candidate – Edmundo González – who he refers to as “president”, to oversee a “peaceful, democratic” transition
- Germany: Maduro “led his country to ruin”, says Chancellor Friedrich Merz, but adds the government is taking time to decide if US actions broke international law
- Italy: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says that “external military action is not the way to put an end to totalitarian regimes”, but adds it is “legitimate” to defend against “attacks on one’s own security”
- Spain: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says Spain “did not recognise” Maduro’s regime, but “nor will it recognise an intervention that violates international law”. He calls for respect for the UN Charter
- European Union: High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas says the EU “has repeatedly stated” that Maduro lacks legitimacy, but calls “for restraint” and a respect for international law
RUSSIA
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has called the US attacks against Venezuela “extremely concerning and deserving of condemnation.”
The ministry released a statement on Saturday, that said “it is particularly important to prevent any further escalation, and focus on seeking a resolution through dialogue.” It added that Russia stands ready to assist in these efforts.
The ministry expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people, saying that “Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own future without destructive external interference, particularly of a military nature.”
Russia maintains friendly relations with Venezuela. In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin held phone talks with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, and reaffirmed his support for the Maduro administration’s policies.
CHINA
China slammed the US for “hegemonic acts” against Venezuela and its President Nicolas Maduro, referring to military strikes and the leader’s capture, urging Washington to abide by the UN Charter.
“China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the US’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president,” a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.
The remarks came after US President Donald Trump said Washington carried out a “large scale strike” against Venezuela, and that Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country.
“Such hegemonic acts of the US seriously violate international law and Venezuela’s sovereignty, and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region. China firmly opposes it,” the spokesperson said.
“We call on the US to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and stop violating other countries’ sovereignty and security,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier, Venezuela’s government said the US attacked civilian and military installations in multiple states, and declared a national emergency.
The attacks came after months of tension, as the US accused Maduro of being involved in drug trafficking. Maduro denied being a cartel leader and had expressed readiness to hold talks.
Separately, China’s Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Venezuela advised citizens to temporarily refrain from traveling to the Caribbean country.
Chinese nationals and institutions in Venezuela are advised to closely monitor the local security situation, strengthen safety precautions and emergency preparedness, and avoid unnecessary outings, a statement said.
