U.S. strikes Venezuela, and Maduro the President is captured
On Saturday, 3 January 2026, the United States launched a sudden military strike in Venezuela, which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
American President Donald Trump announced that he had been captured and securely removed from the country. In response to the Venezuelans president’s capture, Trump said the U.S. would “run” Venezuela temporarily during what he called a transition period. He also stated that restarting and expanding oil production would be a central objective.
The American media was informed that the U.S. officials’ operation included a special forces mission to seize Maduro, alongside air and other strikes on key sites around Caracas. The so-called successful operation followed months of U.S. military build-up in the region, including major naval deployments in the Caribbean and earlier interdictions of vessels linked by Washington to drugs and sanctioned oil.
Maduro, the Venezuelan president, is expected to face U.S. federal charges tied to drug trafficking and “narco-terrorism” allegations dating back to an earlier U.S. indictment, claims which he has long denied. Reports indicate he is being transported to the United States for prosecution in New York.
The operation triggered immediate political and legal controversy in Washington, with some lawmakers questioning whether the strikes amounted to unauthorised military action and warning about the risks of a power vacuum and prolonged involvement.
International reaction has been swift and divided. Russia and Iran condemned the attack, while European leaders urged restraint and stressed that any outcome must respect international law and the UN Charter. Germany likewise called for a political solution and warned against escalation.
Further reports describe disruptions in Caracas, competing claims by Venezuelan officials, and uncertainty about how governance and security will function in the coming days.
Reports note that Venezuela primarily supplies oil to China, the United States, and Spain, with smaller volumes to countries such as Cuba, India, Brazil, Turkey, and other Caribbean islands.
Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez said in a social media post that his country denounced “the criminal attack by the U.S.” on Venezuela, and he called for urgent condemnation from the international community for what he described as “state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against Our America.”
This incident may not be the only action by the USA, as U.S. President Donald Trump last Saturday indicated that Cuba could become a topic of discussion as part of broader U.S. policy in the region, making it possible for Washington to expand its focus beyond Venezuela amid rising tensions in Latin America. Psalm 50:14-15 states, 14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
During this time, we need the voice of the Lord to speak the loudest and the Spirit of God to arrest all parties so we can see and hear and experience peace.