In a dramatic escalation of tensions, the United States has reportedly captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro following a military operation authorised by President Donald Trump. According to a CNN report citing a source familiar with the matter, the operation was carried out by the elite US Army Delta Force.
The Covert Operation and Saturday Strikes
The covert action culminated on Saturday with US strikes targeting Venezuelan military and civilian establishments. The operation successfully led to the capture of President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. At this point, their precise whereabouts remain unknown, adding a layer of mystery to the unfolding situation.
This high-stakes mission was months in the making. The report states that Trump authorised the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela several months ago. The intelligence agency was tasked with tracking Maduro's location, paving the way for the eventual military action. When previously asked if the CIA had orders to "take out Maduro," President Trump dismissed the question as "ridiculous," without denying the authorisation for covert activities.
From Covert Plans to Direct Action
Former CIA senior analyst Ned Price, in comments to the BBC, outlined that covert action can encompass a wide range of activities. These include information campaigns, sabotage, funding opposition groups, or even facilitating the overthrow of a regime. Analysts had earlier speculated that CIA operations in Venezuela might focus on several key targets:
- Airstrips and ports suspected of being used for drug trafficking.
- Military officers allegedly involved in cocaine smuggling.
- Key figures within Maduro's inner security circle.
- An extreme "smash and grab" attempt to capture Maduro or his close associates.
Dr Christopher Sabatini, a senior fellow at Chatham House, provided context to the BBC, noting that Venezuela lacks major narcotics laboratories. Therefore, any US strike would likely aim at military or government sites, a prediction that proved accurate with Saturday's events. Such actions, he warned, risk significantly escalating tensions in the Latin American region.
Trial and Escalating Pressure Campaign
The captured Venezuelan leader is now expected to face trial in the United States. This operation is not an isolated incident but the latest and most aggressive step in a sustained pressure campaign by the Trump administration against Maduro's government. The campaign has previously included a series of economic sanctions and targeted airstrikes aimed at destabilising the regime in Caracas.
The successful capture of President Nicolás Maduro marks a pivotal moment in US-Venezuela relations, potentially altering the political landscape of the region. The international community now watches closely for Venezuela's response and the next steps in this high-profile geopolitical confrontation.
