In a dramatic escalation of international intervention, a targeted United States military operation has led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The event has drawn immediate global reactions, including high praise from Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu for US President Donald Trump.
Global Leaders React to the Capture
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly lauded US President Donald Trump following the successful operation. In a post on the social media platform X late on Saturday night, Netanyahu extended his congratulations for what he termed Trump's "bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice." He further saluted the President's "decisive resolve" and commended the "brilliant action" of American soldiers involved in the mission.
This operation marks a pivotal moment in the long-standing tensions between Washington and Caracas. The US has maintained severe sanctions on Venezuela for years and had previously announced a $50 million bounty for Maduro's arrest. The charges against the Venezuelan leader are grave, with Washington accusing him of involvement in international drug trafficking and of rigging the 2024 presidential election.
Trump's Real-Time Account of the Raid
President Donald Trump provided a vivid, first-hand account of the military action, revealing he watched the entire operation unfold live from his Mar-a-Lago estate. In telephone interviews with Fox News and Fox & Friends Weekend, Trump described the experience as akin to viewing a high-stakes television program.
"I mean, I watched it, literally, like I was watching a television show," Trump stated. "If you would have seen the speed, the violence — we watched every aspect of it." He detailed that Maduro was apprehended from a heavily guarded compound, which he described as a "fortress." Trump hailed the mission as a "brilliant operation," noting that US forces breached steel doors within seconds—a feat he claimed he had never witnessed before.
Aftermath and Control of Venezuela's Oil Wealth
The immediate consequences of the capture are far-reaching. According to a CNN report, President Trump announced that the United States would now take control of Venezuela's vast oil reserves. The plan involves encouraging American companies to invest billions of dollars to rebuild the country's crippled oil industry.
Venezuela's oil reserves are a colossal prize. Data from the US Energy Information Administration indicates the country holds approximately 303 billion barrels of crude oil, representing roughly one-fifth of the world's total proven reserves. A US-led overhaul of this sector could potentially transform Venezuela into a major global oil supplier, create significant opportunities for Western oil firms, and help stabilise international oil prices.
Regarding legal proceedings, CNN reported that Nicolás Maduro is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, New York. He is expected to face federal charges related to drugs and weapons in a Manhattan court.
This unprecedented military and political move by the United States has redrawn the geopolitical map of Latin America, setting a new precedent for direct intervention and triggering debates on sovereignty, international law, and global energy security.
