CARACAS, Venezuela — In a dramatic and rapidly unfolding geopolitical crisis, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
According to the U.S. administration, the capture was part of a “large-scale” military operation involving targeted strikes across the South American nation.
President Trump said Venezuela’s left-wing President Maduro and his wife were flown out of the country in a military operation in conjunction with US law enforcement. They have been charged with drug and weapons offences in New York. Simultaneously, the Venezuelan capital of Caracas was rocked by near-simultaneous explosions.
Witnesses reported strikes on critical military infrastructure, including the La Carlota military airfield in the city center and the Fuerte Tiuna military base. Video footage emerging from the capital shows massive plumes of smoke and raging fires at both sites. The strikes have caused widespread power outages in surrounding residential communities.
The sheer intensity of the assault left residents in a state of shock. One eyewitness in Caracas recounted the terrifying moment to Vivid Voice News:
“My heart was pumping and legs were shaking,” they said as the sound of explosions reverberated through the city.
A state of national emergency
The Venezuelan government has moved swiftly to denounce what it calls “military aggression,” officially declaring a state of national emergency.
In a tense communique, Caracas challenged the U.S. claims and issued an ultimatum to Washington.
The Venezuelan administration is demanding “immediate proof of life” for President Maduro and his wife.
Furthermore, the government has called upon its grassroots supporters and civilian militias to mobilize across the country in defense of the socialist revolution.
The road to conflict
The current escalation follows months of mounting tension and a series of U.S. maritime operations.
Since September, the U.S. has launched approximately 30 strikes against speedboats in the Caribbean and Pacific, alleging they were part of a state-sponsored drug-smuggling network. These operations have reportedly resulted in over 110 deaths.
The U.S. maintains that Maduro’s presidency is illegitimate and that he has used oil wealth to fund international narcotics trafficking.
President Trump has also frequently accused Maduro of “emptying his prisons and insane asylums” and “forcing” inmates to migrate to the United States.
Diplomacy collapses
The strikes come just days after Maduro appeared to offer a diplomatic olive branch. During an interview with state television on Thursday, the Venezuelan leader stated he was open to high-level discussions regarding oil and narcotics.
“Wherever and whenever they want,” Maduro said, referring to potential talks with U.S. officials.
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During that same interview, Maduro notably declined to comment on earlier U.S. claims of a CIA-led strike on a docking facility in Zulia—an oil-rich state that has become a focal point of recent military activity.
Potential consequences
As the international community awaits further details, the situation remains highly volatile.
While the Venezuelan government appears to be appealing to its socialist base for a domestic uprising, the sheer scale of the U.S. military intervention suggests a decisive shift in the long-standing standoff.
With Caracas in the midst of a blackout and unconfirmed reports of foreign aircraft circling the city, the region stands on the brink of a major shift in power.
