The U.S. operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife was the result of months of covert planning involving elite Special Forces, CIA assets and a large-scale military buildup across the region, according to sources familiar with the mission.
President Donald Trump announced the operation early Saturday, later describing it as “an extraordinary military operation” that used “overwhelming American military power.” Speaking at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said air, land and sea forces were deployed in what he called “one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might” since World War Two. Asked how U.S. control of Venezuela fit his “America First” policy, Trump said Washington wanted “good neighbors,” stability and access to energy, calling Venezuela’s resources strategically important.
Operation Absolute Resolve
Sources said elite troops, including the Army’s Delta Force, built an exact replica of Maduro’s safe house and rehearsed the assault in detail. The CIA deployed a small team on the ground from August, developing insight into Maduro’s daily movements, while an intelligence asset close to him helped pinpoint his location during the operation.
The mission, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, was approved by Trump four days before it was launched, though planners advised waiting for better weather. Trump monitored the assault live from Mar-a-Lago.
U.S. officials said more than 150 aircraft, including F-35s, F-22s and B-1 bombers, took part, alongside drones, electronic warfare planes and Special Forces inserted into Caracas. Airstrikes hit Venezuelan military targets as helicopters flew low over the capital.
According to U.S. officials, Maduro surrendered inside his fortified residence after attempting to reach a safe room. Some U.S. forces were injured but none were killed. Maduro and his wife were later flown out and placed aboard a U.S. naval vessel bound for New York to face charges.
“Safe Transition”
Trump said the United States would run Venezuela until a “safe” transition is possible and confirmed plans for major U.S. oil companies to invest heavily in the country’s energy sector. “We’re going to be running it with a group and we’re going to make sure it’s run properly,” while stating that US boots on Venezuelan soil is an option. Meanwhile on a similar note, both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio made reference to Cuba with Rubio stating that, “Look, if I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned, at least a little bit.”
Threats Where Made
He warned the operation should serve as a message to those threatening U.S. interests, while senior officials said details of how Venezuela will be governed remain under development. Speaking specifically about Colombian President Gustavo Petro, “He has cocaine mills. He has factories where he makes cocaine,” Trump said, “And yeah, I think I stick by my first statement… he does have to watch his ass.”
Oil
Speaking on Venezuelan oil, Trump emphasized the future US involvement, stating that, “As everyone knows, the oil business in Venezuela has been a bust, a total bust for a long period of time. They were pumping almost nothing by comparison to what they could have been pumping and what could have taken place. We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country.”
