The United States conducted a significant military operation against Venezuela early Saturday, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, as announced by President Donald Trump.
The mission, carried out by Delta Force special operations troops, marks the first U.S. military intervention to remove a sitting head of state since Panama in 1989. The Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading a narco-terrorist state, noted in a 2020 narco-terrorism indictment in New York.
“The United States of America successfully executed a large-scale operation in Venezuela to apprehend President Nicolas Maduro and his wife,” Trump announced on Truth Social at 5:21 a.m. Venezuelan time.
OPERATION DETAILS REMAIN LIMITED
Around 2 a.m. Venezuelan Eastern Time, residents in Caracas reported at least seven major explosions and low-flying military aircraft. Strikes targeted military sites like La Carlota airfield and Fuerte Tiuna headquarters, thought to be president’s operational centers.
The operation lasted under thirty minutes, leading to power outages in southern Caracas. Trump planned a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida later that day.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez responded to Trump’s statement: “We do not know the whereabouts of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. We demand proof of life.”
THE CHARGES: NARCO-TERRORISM INDICTMENT
In March 2020, Maduro faced charges in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for narco-terrorism conspiracy, drug trafficking, and weapon possession.
Prosecutors alleged Maduro “flooded the United States with cocaine” to undermine the nation’s health and worked with Colombian rebels in drug operations.
In August 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a $50 million reward for Maduro’s capture, alleging collaboration with the Sinaloa Cartel and Tren de Aragua gang and seizure of 30 tons of cocaine linked to him.
Maduro has consistently denied all allegations of drug trafficking.
EU RESPONSE: INTERNATIONAL LAW EMPHASIS
The European Union issued a measured response focusing on legal principles, acknowledging Maduro’s lack of democratic legitimacy.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she had “spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and our Ambassador in Caracas“ and confirmed that the EU was “closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela.”
Kallas noted “the EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition” while
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