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Venezuelan President, Maduro Faces U.S. Trial After Dramatic Arrest Operation

Published by admin on January 3rd, 2026.

Venezuelan President, Maduro Faces U.S. Trial After Dramatic Arrest Operation

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to face criminal prosecution in the United States following a dramatic U.S. military operation that reportedly led to his arrest. According to U.S. officials, Maduro and his wife were taken into custody by American special forces and flown out of Caracas.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Maduro would be tried in the United States, with charges expected to center on drug trafficking. Republican Senator Mike Lee said Rubio personally informed him that U.S. forces carried out a targeted operation to enforce an arrest warrant and ensure the safety of those involved.

Lee added that U.S. authorities do not expect further military action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in American custody.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump praised the mission, describing it as a “brilliant operation.” In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump announced that U.S. forces had carried out a large-scale strike in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of Maduro and his wife. He credited extensive planning and the performance of U.S. troops for the success of the mission and said a press briefing would follow at his Mar-a-Lago residence.

Reports indicated that U.S. air strikes hit multiple locations in Caracas and nearby states, including Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. Smoke was seen rising over the العاصمة as Venezuelan authorities declared a state of emergency.

The military action followed months of warnings from Washington over alleged drug-smuggling operations linked to Venezuela. Rubio has long accused Maduro of leading the “Cartel de los Soles,” which he has described as a narco-terrorist network involved in moving drugs into the United States. Rubio recently reposted earlier statements reinforcing those claims shortly after news of the arrest emerged.

Trinidad and Tobago moved quickly to distance itself from the operation. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar stated that her country was not involved in the military action, despite recent cooperation with the U.S. on regional anti-drug efforts. She stressed that Trinidad and Tobago maintains peaceful relations with Venezuela.

International reaction has been swift. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government is closely monitoring the situation due to the presence of about 160,000 Italian citizens in Venezuela. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said she had spoken with Rubio and called for restraint, emphasizing respect for international law and the safety of EU citizens.

Venezuela’s government has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, condemning the U.S. action as an act of aggression. Spain has offered to mediate between Washington and Caracas in an effort to prevent further escalation, while Russia strongly criticized the strikes, accusing the U.S. of choosing confrontation over diplomacy.

Meanwhile, sources within Venezuela’s opposition suggested that Maduro’s arrest may have followed behind-the-scenes negotiations with the United States, though neither government has confirmed whether talks took place before the operation. Only days earlier, Maduro had publicly expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with Washington.