U.S. strikes Venezuela, captures president Maduro and his wife
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U.S. President Donald Trump today said the U.S. successfully carried out strikes against Venezuela and captured its president Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Venezuela’s vice president has confirmed that the president and his wife are missing.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
“This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” Trump said in the post. Venezuela, meanwhile, has condemned the strikes on its soil and has said the nation will not tolerate the presence of foreign troops on its soil.
Venezuelan defence minister said the country will not bow down and will fight back.
Trouble between the US and Venezuela had been brewing over the past couple of months on the back of Trump’s allegations that Venezuela had been involved in drug cartels and narco-terrorism. Tensions between the two nations increased from December 29, as US struck the docking areas inside Venezuela. This marked a shift from maritime interdiction to land-based operations.
December 2025
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Last year, the Trump administration designated the Cartel de los Soles and the Tren de Aragua gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) in late 2025 and alleged Maduro’s linkages to the organizations. It may be noted that the US had announced a bounty $50 million on Maduro.
The Trump administration had upped the ante against the alleged drug trafficking boats ever since September last year. Since September last year, the U.S. has conducted over a dozen lethal strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats, leading to deaths of at least 115 deaths persons.
It may be noted that Venezuela has mega oil reserves and India too used to import oil from Venezuela. However, post the US sanctions on the country, India has not been sourcing oil from the country.