Kidnapping of Nicolas Maduro by the United States, a military operation with heavy international implications
By Jean Wesley Pierre · Port-au-Prince · · 3 min read · Updated 24 April 2026
Translated from French — AI-assisted and reviewed by the editorial team. The French version is authoritative. Read the original · About our translation policy
The United States announced this Saturday, January 3, 2026, the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro following a military operation conducted in Caracas on the night of Friday, January 2 to Saturday, January 3.
The operation, claimed by US President Donald Trump during a press conference, marks a major turning point in the Venezuelan crisis and has sparked strong reactions on the international stage.
According to US authorities, Nicolas Maduro was reportedly apprehended without major clashes, then exfiltrated from Venezuelan territory before being transferred to the United States. Donald Trump hailed the operation as « perfectly executed », stating that no human or material losses were reported on the American side. He presented this action as a demonstration of the United States' military power and its capacity to intervene rapidly.
Beyond the arrest itself, Washington announced its intention to support a political transition in Venezuela. US President Donald Trump stated that the United States would not accept a close associate of Nicolas Maduro ensuring the continuity of power and that they intended to guarantee a transition he deemed « credible » and « beneficial » for the Venezuelan people. He also mentioned a temporary American presence to « manage certain strategic affairs », particularly in the oil sector, fueling accusations of the country being placed under guardianship.
This announcement immediately sparked mixed reactions. While some opponents of Nicolas Maduro's regime see it as the end of a power accused of authoritarian abuses, others denounce a blatant violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and international law. Several Latin American governments called for restraint, while international organizations expressed concerns about the escalation of tensions.
In this context, an independent international mission mandated since 2019 by the United Nations Human Rights Council, which does not speak on behalf of the organization, recalled that Nicolas Maduro's regime was subject to serious accusations of human rights violations, including extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, and acts of torture.
However, the mission insisted that these accusations could not justify a foreign military intervention contrary to international law.
Meanwhile, images broadcast by Agence France-Presse show Nicolas Maduro arriving on American soil, escorted and handcuffed. He is expected to be brought before US justice, where he is indicted on charges related to drug trafficking and narcoterrorism.
In Caracas, uncertainty prevails. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez rejected any legitimacy for the American intervention and demanded the immediate release of the head of state, asserting that Venezuela « will not be anyone's colony ».
