MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Trump claims Maduro captured after “large-scale strike” on Venezuela
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro had been captured and removed from the country following what he described as a “large-scale” U.S. military operation carried out overnight. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesWhat now? Bring in Lula and Petro for company, take them to Guantanamo and open a 'retirement home' for leftist strongmen? Externally imposed regime change is seldom successful, even worthwhile. Regardless of what ones opinion is of Maduro and his clique, it should be left up to the Venezuelan people to make changes, as slow and painful as that may turn out to be. Chile is the nearest and best example of how to do that.
Jan 03rd, 2026 - 11:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0Elections were held in Venezuela not that long ago, with the opposition claiming that they were rigged in Maduro's favour. I believe that 100%. Venezuela is a rich country, and Venezuelans deserve a fair Government, once and for all. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will play out.
Jan 03rd, 2026 - 01:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Agreed, however in a world where Israel can obliterate Gaza with the population still in it, Russia can invade Ukraine and China can (now seriously) threaten Tiawan, an egotist like Trump is not going to miss out on bitch slapping Maduro around.
Jan 03rd, 2026 - 01:40 pm - Link - Report abuse +1It’s the world we now live in, hard power counts for more as the UN fades into the background and every country has its own idea of what ‘international law’ means.
I just wonder if this “Delta Force” led strike and capture is going to justify the bombing of civilian areas in 3 other states.
Jan 03rd, 2026 - 02:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I think Donald has been listening to Vladimir too much when it comes to military strategy.
A pity he won't just disappear, as he has done to so many others...
Jan 03rd, 2026 - 04:55 pm - Link - Report abuse +1https://www.caracaschronicles.com/2024/08/30/can-we-finally-talk-about-maduros-desaparecidos/
Greenland next?
Jan 04th, 2026 - 11:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0Then Cuba ?
Jan 04th, 2026 - 01:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oh, given time he’ll probably get round to those two.
Jan 04th, 2026 - 04:17 pm - Link - Report abuse +1But this is about oil, and I’m sure FortHay will correct me if I’m wrong here, but for whatever historical reasons, most US refineries are set up to process ‘heavy crude’, which the US produces very little of, that comes from Canada, Russia or you guessed it Venezuela.
Currently most US refineries are almost entirely dependant on supplies of Canadian ‘heavy crude’ to keep running, shipped via extensive pipeline networks. An uncomfortable position for Donald given his current trade war with Canada.
He thinks if he can secure a supply of Venezuelan ‘heavy crude’, it will reduce the US dependence on Canada and give him more leverage in his trade war.
The practical problems of running a country like Venezuela, never mind doing it ‘by proxy’, whilst rebuilding a country wide oil infrastructure, before getting any quantity of oil to the US, doesn’t seem to daunt Donald in the slightest.
Not going to be quick, easy or cheap to do, if it is even doable.
There are many hypotheses about what happened in Venezuela. Betrayal, deals, that certainly happened. But something still leaves me in doubt: if there wasn't a regime change, if there wasn't the rise of Corina Machado and her cronies, what really changed?
Jan 04th, 2026 - 06:17 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Perhaps Rubio's hope that the fear of a decapitation attack will solve the problem. I anticipate, it won't!
Maybe with more money...who knows?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM9qmwudG90&list=FLmXPTu1f8AdGlizWNiASx2A&index=1
The Venezuela story is not over yet, yes its good that a dictator that clearly lost the election has been removed, but his cult following is still in power. their is massive uncertainty.
Jan 04th, 2026 - 07:09 pm - Link - Report abuse +1What has changed is US companies will rebuild Venezuelan oil production, for a cut of the profits.
Jan 04th, 2026 - 11:03 pm - Link - Report abuse +1Doesn’t matter who is in power in Caracas just so long as the situation is stable/secure enough for the oil companies to work.
The best interests of Venezuela, or the Venezuelan people were never a consideration in this.
This is a plan written on the back of a cigarette packet after a night’s heavy drinking.
Brilliant idea at the time, but in the cold light of day???
US companies will not be welcome in Venezuela. Take my word for it. The Venezuelan people hate the United States or anything that comes from them. Believe me!
Jan 04th, 2026 - 11:32 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Agreed Pugol-H, and Trump can not be trusted one bit , its about oil and nothing more. still cant see how things will change, the same corrupt lot are still in power, how can they be controlled and made to do the right thing for Venezuela, the military still backs their new President, as does the secret police, so many questions to answer,
Jan 05th, 2026 - 12:15 am - Link - Report abuse +1To avoid having US ‘boots on the ground’ to control the country, the plan entirely relies on there being a puppet government in Cracas that can a) control the country and b) will do what Trump wants.
Jan 05th, 2026 - 03:26 pm - Link - Report abuse +1Now, the only people capable of controlling the country is the Maduro faction and their Securitate.
We shall see how far down the road of being ‘puppets’ they are willing to go and what Trump will do if they don’t play ball.
Either way, I don’t see much good for the people of Venezuela in this, and it could get a whole lot messier.
Impressive though that military operation was, it’s not something they would want to try and repeat now that everyone knows how it was done and will have countermeasures.
Operation rolling thunder re-visited perhaps, or straight to Linebacker III?
Cold light of day now.
”... that can a) control the country and b) will do what Trump wants.”
Jan 05th, 2026 - 10:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Aye, there's the rub... ;)
Plan written on the back of a cigarette packet after a night’s heavy drinking.
Jan 05th, 2026 - 11:26 pm - Link - Report abuse +1Brilliant idea at the time, but in the cold light of day???
From Twitter: “Venezuela's oil faces uniquely difficult geology, low ultimate recovery rates, and severe infrastructure deficits”. There are also logistical nightmares & rampant corruption to contend with. It would take years worth of investment - in the billions of $$$ just to reach a level of production US refineries are already processing. Reportedly Oil companies were informed before the 'invasion' of what would happen & Trump expects them to just start fixing the manifold problems Chavez & Maduro have left in their wake & start pumping that oil. “...back of a cigarette packet...” seems pretty accurate honestly.
Jan 06th, 2026 - 12:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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