Venezuela Under Attack

The blogger ibikunle Abraham laniyan authors a critique of US foreign policy in Venezuela and the deprivation of sovereignty from a make-believe sovereign states.Enjoy the reading.

On January 3, 2026, U.S. special forces (Delta Force) conducted a large-scale military operation in Caracas, Venezuela, to capture President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The operation, ordered by President Donald Trump and termed "Operation Southern Spear" or "Operation Absolute Resolve," involved airstrikes on radar and defense batteries across the capital. 

Reasons for the Capture

The Trump administration justified the operation not as a military coup, but as a law enforcement action with military support. Key justifications included: 

Narcoterrorism Charges: Maduro was facing a 2020 federal indictment for leading the "Cartel of the Suns" and conspiring with terrorist groups like FARC to "flood the U.S. with cocaine".

Electoral Fraud: The U.S. and international observers described the 2024 Venezuelan election results as fraudulent, leading the U.S. to view Maduro as an illegitimate leader.

National Security: Trump labeled Maduro's government a "narco-state" and a threat to U.S. national security due to its alleged role in the illegal drug trade.

Economic Interests: Trump explicitly stated that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela until a transition occurred and indicated that U.S. companies would be "very strongly involved" in repairing and controlling the country's massive oil reserves. 

Differences from the Manuel Noriega (Panama) Case

The Trump administration frequently cited the 1989 invasion of Panama and the capture of Manuel Noriega as a direct precedent for this action. 

Feature Manuel Noriega (1989) Nicolás Maduro (2026)

Official Role Military dictator (behind the scenes). Sitting, recognized (by some) President.

Legal Justification Protecting U.S. lives (after a soldier was killed) and drug charges. "Narco-terrorism" indictments and "armed conflict" with drug cartels.

U.S. Recognition The U.S. recognized an opposition winner (Endara) as the legitimate president. The U.S. had not recognized a definitive leader to authorize the raid, though it disputed the 2024 results.

Outcome Noriega surrendered after a sanctuary standoff; Panama's government was replaced. Maduro was extracted by force from his home; the previous government remained largely in place initially under an "acting" leader.

Economic Motive Primarily focused on the Panama Canal and regional stability. Heavily focused on seizing and managing Venezuela's oil reserves.

As of January 4, 2026, Maduro is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, with an initial court appearance scheduled for January 5 in Manhattan federal court. 

On January 3, 2026, the Trump administration conducted a massive military strike and raid in Caracas, Venezuela, specifically to capture President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Following the operation, Maduro was taken into U.S. custody and transported to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. 

Justification for the "Kidnapping" (Capture)

The U.S. government officially categorized the operation, "Operation Absolute Resolve," as an enforcement of criminal law rather than an illegal kidnapping. 

Narcoterrorism Charges: A 2020 federal indictment, unsealed and updated during the 2026 raid, accused Maduro of leading the "Cartel of the Suns" and conspiring to flood the U.S. with cocaine.

Irregular Warfare: The administration alleged Maduro used gangs like Tren de Aragua to wage "irregular warfare" by intentionally sending criminals and drugs into the U.S..

Illegitimacy: Trump maintained that Maduro was an illegitimate leader following the disputed 2024 elections, which were widely criticized by international observers as fraudulent. 

Pursuit of Maduro vs. Other Drug Traders

Critics, including some U.S. lawmakers, have questioned the singular focus on Maduro while other alleged traffickers remain unpunished. 

Selective Enforcement: Critics noted that while Maduro was targeted, other regional figures convicted or accused of similar crimes, such as former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández (who was pardoned by Trump), have been treated differently.

Cartel Collaboration: The U.S. Department of Justice alleged Maduro's regime provided state-level protection and military logistics for cocaine shipments, making him a unique "narco-terrorist" threat compared to individual private traders. 

The Role of Venezuela's Oil Reserves

Following the capture, President Trump stated that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela and take control of its oil reserves, which are the largest in the world. 

Reclaiming "Stolen" Assets: Trump claimed Venezuela "stole" oil from the U.S. through past nationalizations of American-run infrastructure and that the U.S. was now taking it back.

Economic Strategy: Trump announced that major U.S. oil companies (like ExxonMobil and Chevron) would be recruited to spend billions to repair Venezuela's broken infrastructure.

Regional Dominance: Under the "Don-Roe Doctrine" (Trump's version of the Monroe Doctrine), the administration asserted that the U.S. must control energy and mineral resources in the Western Hemisphere to ensure national stability.

Reimbursement: Trump suggested that selling Venezuelan oil would reimburse the U.S. for "damages caused by that country". 

I think it is quite unfair to try to steal world largest oil reserves and with this form of selective justice and messing up sovereignty of the country methinks is quite unfair I must say.