Key Takeaways
- U.S. President Donald Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a large-scale military operation, with Maduro now en route to New York to face charges.
- The operation involved over 150 aircraft and was carried out under direct orders from President Trump, who stated the U.S. is "not afraid" to deploy troops and will "run Venezuela with a group" until a proper transition.
- President Trump emphasized that Venezuela "stole our oil" and indicated that large U.S. oil companies would be heavily involved in the country's energy sector post-operation.
- India has issued a strong advisory urging its nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Venezuela, reflecting the heightened instability in the region.
In a dramatic escalation of U.S. foreign policy, President Donald Trump announced on Saturday, January 3, 2026, that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been captured in a large-scale U.S. military operation. Maduro is reportedly being transported to New York to face federal charges, including narco-terrorism.
U.S. top military officer General Dan Caine confirmed that the Venezuela mission, ordered by President Trump at 10:46 ET on Friday, involved more than 150 aircraft. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth remarked on Maduro, "He F'd around and found out," underscoring the decisive nature of the U.S. action. President Trump explicitly stated the U.S. is "not afraid" of "boots on the ground" and intends to "run Venezuela with a group" until a "safe, proper and judicious transition" can be established. This marks a significant shift towards direct U.S. involvement in Venezuelan governance.
A key motivation cited by President Trump for the intervention was Venezuela's alleged seizure of U.S. oil assets, with the President declaring, "They stole our oil" and "we want it back." He indicated that major U.S. oil companies would be "very strongly involved" in Venezuela's oil sector following the operation, aiming to revitalize the country's infrastructure and generate revenue. The U.S. embargo on Venezuelan oil remains in full effect.
Internationally, the situation has prompted immediate reactions. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has strongly advised Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Venezuela, urging those already there to exercise extreme caution and maintain contact with the Indian Embassy in Caracas. This advisory highlights the rapidly evolving and potentially hazardous environment within Venezuela.
While the focus remains on Venezuela, officials at Yemenia Airways announced that Yemen's Aden Airport, which had been shut since Thursday, is expected to resume operations on Sunday. The closure was reportedly due to escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE in Yemen.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.