US captures Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after airstrikes

WASHINGTON: Within hours of carrying out airstrikes in Venezuela, the United States captured President Nicolas Maduro in a show of military force. His wife, Cilia Flores, was also taken into custody and flown to the US. US President Donald Trump has labelled Maduro a drug cartel leader and a terrorist group head, and announced that he will be tried in New York. The action has been condemned by several countries, including Russia and China.

Venezuela is a left-leaning South American country. Since Hugo Chávez became president in 1999, the country has been treated as a hostile nation by the US. Venezuela is also one of the countries with the largest oil reserves in the world. The Venezuelan government has alleged that Trump’s real target is the country’s oil wealth.

The airstrikes were carried out early Saturday morning, targeting military installations in the capital Caracas. Maduro was captured from the Fort Tiuna military base. He had left the presidential palace just before the attacks, and there were no explosions reported at the palace.

What are the charges? The US has accused Maduro of cocaine trafficking, possessing machine guns and deadly weapons, and conspiring to use them against the United States. Trump had earlier announced a reward of 5 crore US dollars for those helping to capture Maduro. The airstrikes were carried out by Delta Force at 1.50 am local time (11.20 am IST Saturday). The number of people killed has not been confirmed. There were no casualties reported among US soldiers. An emergency has been declared in Venezuela. The attack came just days after Maduro had said Venezuela was willing to hold talks with the US and allow investments.

Not recognised as president

• After Hugo Chávez’s death in 2013, Maduro, who was vice president, came to power. In 2020, the US accused Maduro of narco-terrorism.
• Maduro was elected president for a third term in the July 2024 election, but the US and several Western countries refused to recognise the result.

Military build-up over months 1. September 2025: The US deployed forces in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean to counter Venezuelan boats. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford and 15,000 troops were deployed. Around 115 people were killed in 35 attacks. 2. November–December: Trump announced the closure of airspace around Venezuela. Two oil tankers were seized, and a drone attack was carried out at a port.

The US must provide proof that Maduro is alive -Delcy Rodríguez Venezuelan Vice President

I watched the military operation live, “like a good TV show.” - Donald Trump US President