Venezuela: The United States has claimed that it carried out a military operation in Venezuela and took President Nicolás Maduro into custody, according to social media posts by former US President Donald Trump. Trump said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained by American forces and moved out of Venezuela. The claims relate to events said to have occurred overnight in multiple Venezuelan cities.
According to Trump’s posts, US forces began strikes around 2:00 a.m. local time, targeting military bases and what were described as key strategic locations in four Venezuelan cities. He said a detailed briefing would be provided at a press conference later in the day. At the time of writing, there has been no independent confirmation from the US government or Venezuelan authorities to verify these claims.
Emergency declared in Venezuela
Following reports of the attacks, Maduro issued a statement promising retaliation and announced a nationwide state of emergency. Trump later posted that Maduro had been arrested shortly after the emergency declaration. Venezuelan state media has not released clear details confirming an arrest, and international observers have urged caution until official statements are issued by both governments.
Reasons cited by Trump
Trump outlined three main reasons for the alleged action:
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Oil disputes: He accused Venezuela of illegally taking oil assets linked to American companies.
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Drug trafficking: Trump claimed Venezuela was involved in large-scale drug smuggling into the United States and said US forces targeted boats allegedly carrying narcotics.
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Removal from power: He described Maduro as an authoritarian leader and said the US aimed to remove him from office.
US court charges mentioned
Trump also referred to criminal cases in the United States, stating that charges had been filed against Maduro and Cilia Flores in the Southern District of New York. He said the accusations included drug trafficking, conspiracy and weapons-related offences. The United States Department of Justice has previously announced indictments against senior Venezuelan officials, though it has not confirmed any recent arrests.
The Justice Department reportedly thanked US forces for what it called a successful operation against international drug trafficking. However, officials have not released documents or evidence supporting the capture claim.
International reaction and uncertainty
So far, there is no confirmation from Venezuela, the White House, or international agencies. Analysts note that relations between the US and Venezuela have been tense for years, marked by sanctions, diplomatic disputes, and past allegations related to drugs and human rights.
