Caracas, Venezuela – In the early hours of January 3rd, 2026, a series of explosions rocked Caracas, signaling the start of what appears to be a large-scale U.S. military operation. The operation culminated in the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who were subsequently transported out of the country.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the operation with pride, stating that Maduro would face justice in the United States on charges related to narco-terrorism. The implications of this event are far-reaching, raising serious questions about international law and the future of global power dynamics.
This event represents a blatant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. The incursion into a sovereign nation and the arrest of its elected leader, regardless of the controversy surrounding the elections, without the authorization of the UN Security Council, constitutes an act of military aggression. This action evokes memories of a colonial era where power dictated the rules.
Comparisons have been drawn to the operations against Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. However, a crucial difference exists. Bin Laden was targeted after the 9/11 attacks, and Saddam Hussein was apprehended in his own country after an internationally sanctioned invasion. Maduro, however, is the president of a sovereign state.
A critical question remains: How did U.S. forces manage to penetrate the capital and arrest the president in a country supposedly on high alert? Venezuela possesses a well-equipped military and maintains close military ties with Russia and China. While Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López called for a massive deployment of military forces, the announcement came too late.
Reports suggest that the elite U.S. Delta Force was involved in the operation. However, even highly trained special forces require precise intelligence and internal cooperation to execute an operation of this speed and precision. The most plausible scenario involves internal betrayal, as such an operation is highly unlikely to succeed with external forces alone. The arrest of Maduro marks a concerning shift in the global landscape, potentially undermining the principles of national sovereignty and international cooperation.