Following a dramatic unilateral military operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, senior Venezuelan officials have issued a defiant vow of resistance, framing the United States' actions as a brazen act of imperialist aggression aimed at seizing the country's vast oil wealth.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, a powerful figure within the ruling party, appeared publicly flanked by police to declare that Venezuela "will overcome" the wave of U.S. strikes. In a televised address, he condemned the attack and the capture of Maduro as a "criminal, terrorist" act, signaling the government's refusal to capitulate. His resolve was echoed by Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, who urged popular mobilization against what he called the "most serious aggression" in Venezuela's history, calling for national unity to resist the foreign assault.
The operation, which U.S. President Donald Trump labeled a "large-scale strike," began in the early hours of January 3rd with explosions and low-flying aircraft over Caracas, targeting military installations and plunging parts of the capital into darkness. U.S. Delta Force operatives, alongside FBI agents, subsequently raided Maduro's residence within the Fuerte Tiuna military compound, dragging the president and First Lady Cilia Flores from their bedroom and spiriting them out of the country to the USS Iwo Jima warship.
In a press conference from his Mar-a-Lago estate, President Trump outlined an unprecedented plan for direct U.S. control over the sovereign nation. "We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," Trump declared, gesturing to officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as the team who would manage the occupation.
Central to this plan, as detailed by Trump, is the immediate exploitation of Venezuela's oil reserves, the largest in the world. He announced his intention to authorize "very large United States oil companies" to enter Venezuela, invest billions to refurbish its oil infrastructure, and "start making money for the country". He explicitly stated U.S. troops would "have a presence in Venezuela as it pertains to oil," framing the resource grab as a form of reimbursement for damages allegedly caused by the Maduro government. These statements validate long-standing accusations from Caracas that Washington's primary objective is regime change for resource control.
The U.S. attack has triggered a firestorm of international condemnation, particularly across Latin America, with leaders denouncing it as a flagrant violation of international law and a dangerous return to the hemisphere's dark history of U.S. intervention.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated the action crossed "an unacceptable line," warning it recalls the "worst moments of interference" and threatens regional peace. Colombian President Gustavo Petro rejected the "aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America" and deployed troops to the border in anticipation of a refugee crisis. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the intervention, directly citing the UN Charter's prohibition on the use of force against a state's territorial integrity.
Cuba's President Miguel Díaz-Canel delivered one of the sharpest rebukes, calling the attack a "criminal" act of "state terrorism" directed against all of "Our America". Major global powers allied with Venezuela, including Russia and China, joined the condemnation. Russia's Foreign Ministry denounced the "act of armed aggression" and "unacceptable infringement on sovereignty," while China expressed being "deeply shocked" and condemned the U.S.'s "hegemonic behaviour".
To justify the operation, which was conducted without congressional authorization, Trump administration officials internally cited a 1989 legal opinion used to support the invasion of Panama. This opinion argues the president can deploy law enforcement abroad to make arrests even if it contravenes international law. Legal experts have dismissed this as a "flagrant violation of the UN Charter". The U.S. charges against Maduro, including narco-terrorism conspiracy have been similarly criticized, with reports noting the U.S. has presented no court-tested evidence and that UN data shows Venezuela is a marginal player in global drug trafficking.
The future of Venezuela is now shrouded in extreme uncertainty. While Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has been reported as a constitutional successor, the U.S. has declared its intention to directly manage the country's affairs. Grassroots movements in Venezuela have begun mobilizing in the streets of Caracas, with leaders declaring, "the US government is not the world’s police," and demanding Maduro's safe return. As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the invasion and an impending U.S.-led occupation, the world watches to see if this bold act of regime change will lead to liberation or, as history often warns, protracted chaos and conflict.