The United States has announced plans to temporarily oversee Venezuela’s affairs following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in a large-scale military operation carried out overnight in Caracas.
US President Donald Trump disclosed the development during a news conference on Saturday, saying Washington would “run the country” until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” of power is achieved.
He did not provide a timeline for the proposed transition.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were apprehended during a night raid by elite US forces and have since been flown out of Venezuela.
Trump released an image showing Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima, which is heading to New York, where the Venezuelan leader is expected to face charges in a Manhattan federal court, including alleged drug trafficking and weapons offences.
Sources familiar with the operation said the couple were taken from their bedroom during the raid.
Trump claimed the operation was executed with precision and resulted in no US fatalities, though some personnel were injured when a helicopter came under fire.
Explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported across Caracas during the operation, with residents seen evacuating areas near the Miraflores presidential palace.
Power outages were also reported in parts of the capital.
Following the capture, Trump said the US was prepared to launch a second wave of attacks if necessary but indicated it was unlikely, citing the success of the initial operation.
Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, Yván Gil, rejected US claims of a change in leadership, insisting Maduro remains the country’s constitutional president and demanding his immediate return.
The government declared a state of emergency and accused Washington of violating Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, opposition figures welcomed the development. Opposition leader María Corina Machado called for the immediate installation of opposition candidate Edmundo González, whom she described as the legitimate winner of the 2024 presidential election.
International reactions have been mixed. Several countries expressed concern over the escalation, while Venezuelans at home and abroad reacted with a blend of celebration, anxiety and calls for peace.
The US Justice Department confirmed that a long-running indictment against Maduro has been revived, alleging narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and weapons-related offences.
Prosecutors also named members of his family and senior allies in the charges.
As uncertainty grips Venezuela, questions remain over governance, international legality, and the path toward political transition in the oil-rich nation.