Venezuelan Crisis at Glance
- Donald Trump says the US will run Venezuela until a “safe transition” is achieved.
- Trump says Washington will be “strongly involved” in Venezuela’s oil sector after the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, who are being taken to New York to face charges.
- Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López says the country will not negotiate or surrender.
- Caracas accuses the US of striking civilian and military sites, calling it military aggression.
- The crisis follows months of US allegations linking Maduro to drug trafficking and repeated US air strikes near Venezuela since September.
- Maduro had earlier said he was open to talks with the US on counter-narcotics cooperation.
Key Developments
Venezuela’s Vice President Says Maduro Remains Country’s Only Legitimate President
12:50 AM Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has rejected US claims following the military operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro, insisting that Maduro remains the country’s only legitimate leader.
In her first public address since the operation, Rodríguez demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, describing their detention as a “kidnapping.”
“The only president of Venezuela is President Nicolás Maduro,” she said.
Rodríguez called on Venezuelans to remain calm and united in what she described as a moment of national crisis, urging the public to stand together to defend the country’s sovereignty.
She warned that Venezuela would not submit to foreign pressure or intervention, declaring that the country would “never be the colony of any nation.”
Who is Delcy Rodríguez, the Vice President at the Center of Venezuela’s Power Struggle
12:30 AM Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has emerged as a central figure following the US operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro.
On Saturday, Rodríguez said Maduro remains Venezuela’s only legitimate president, contradicting claims by US President Donald Trump, who said she had been sworn in and was willing to cooperate with Washington as the US prepares to oversee a transition.
State television showed Rodríguez speaking in Caracas, despite earlier reports placing her in Russia.
Maduro has described her as a “tiger” for her fierce defense of his socialist government. She works closely with her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, who heads Venezuela’s National Assembly.
Born in Caracas in 1969, Rodríguez is the daughter of left-wing guerrilla leader Jorge Antonio Rodríguez.
A trained lawyer, she rose rapidly through government, serving as communications minister, foreign minister and head of the pro-government Constituent Assembly.
Appointed vice president in 2018, she later took on the finance and oil portfolios, becoming a key manager of the economy amid tightening US sanctions.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani Calls US Operation Against Venezuela an ‘Act of War’
12:00 AM New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has condemned the US operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, calling it an “act of war” and a violation of both international and federal law.
Mamdani said Maduro and his wife, captured overnight in Caracas are being transported to the United States and are expected to be held in federal custody in New York City, where Maduro faces federal indictment.
Speaking three days into his term, Mamdani said he was briefed on the operation and on Maduro’s planned detention in the city.
“Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war,” Mamdani said warning that the pursuit of regime change has direct consequences for New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans living in the city.
New York hosts one of the largest Venezuelan communities in the United States, which has expanded sharply in recent years amid mass migration from Venezuela.
Mamdani said his administration is monitoring the situation closely and will issue guidance to ensure public safety.
Trump Says US Engaging with Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez After Maduro’s Capture
11: 50 PM US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington is now working with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez following the US capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Responding to reporters’ questions, Trump said Rodríguez had been sworn in as president but noted that she was “picked by Maduro,” casting doubt on her political independence.
He added that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had recently spoken with her.
According to Trump, Rodríguez indicated a willingness to cooperate with Washington’s plans for Venezuela. “She’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” he said.
Trump later added that Rodríguez had a lengthy conversation with Rubio and agreed to comply with US demands, suggesting that she had limited room to refuse cooperation.
Key Takeaways From Trump’s Press Conference on Ongoing Venezuela Crisis
11: 28 PM US President Donald Trump said Washington will run Venezuela “with a group” following the US attack, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will work out the details of the arrangement.
US President Donald Trump expressed doubts about Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, saying she lacks the public support and authority to govern the country.
He said the United States does not fear deploying troops on the ground in Venezuela and confirmed that US oil companies would enter the country to repair damaged oil infrastructure and invest billions of dollars.
Trump claimed revenues would benefit both Venezuela and the US as compensation for past damages.
Trump also warned that Washington is prepared to launch a second, much larger attack if necessary, though he said it may not be required.
He issued a veiled warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro amid rising regional tensions.
Washington statement
US President Donald Trump said American forces carried out a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela overnight and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Trump said the operation was coordinated with US law enforcement and supported by the military.
Caracas update
Multiple explosions were reported across Caracas, including near the Fuerte Tiuna military complex, La Carlota Air Base, and communications facilities. Witnesses reported power outages in parts of the capital. Photos and videos showed plumes of smoke and fires in the night sky.
Trump statement
Trump described the mission as “extremely complex,” claiming US forces used helicopters, fighter jets, and elite units to detain Maduro from what he called a fortified safe house. He said Maduro attempted to escape but was captured within minutes.
US officials said some American personnel were injured and a helicopter was hit, but no US fatalities were reported.
Legal framing of the Crisis
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife will face charges in New York, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and weapons offenses. US prosecutors allege Maduro led a criminal network using state institutions to facilitate drug trafficking. Maduro has long denied these accusations.
Government response
Venezuelan authorities condemned the action as “grave military aggression” and declared a nationwide state of emergency. Defense officials ordered full military mobilization and said Venezuela would pursue the matter at the United Nations while reserving the right to self-defense.
Despite US claims, American forces do not appear to control Venezuelan territory. The status of Venezuela’s civilian and military leadership remains unclear, raising concerns about a possible power vacuum.
Public reaction
Security forces were seen patrolling parts of Caracas. Small pro-government gatherings were reported, while some residents expressed relief, highlighting deep divisions inside the country.
Latin America’s reaction on the crisis
Argentina’s president praised what he called Venezuela’s “new freedom.” Mexico condemned the intervention, while Brazil said it crossed an unacceptable line. Colombia warned of regional destabilization.
Global response
Russia, Iran, and Cuba denounced the operation as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty. Tehran called on the UN Security Council to address what it described as unlawful aggression.
Context of the crisis unfolding at the start of 2026
This is the most direct US intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama. Tensions had escalated in recent months following US sanctions, counter-narcotics operations, and Washington’s designation of Maduro as the head of a foreign terrorist organization.
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