Key Takeaways
- The United States launched a "large-scale strike" in Venezuela, culminating in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are now en route to New York to face criminal charges.
- President Donald Trump declared that the U.S. will "run Venezuela" until a "safe, proper, and judicious transition" can be established, asserting American dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
- Trump announced plans for major U.S. oil companies to enter Venezuela, claiming the U.S. originally built the nation's oil industry, and affirmed the embargo on Venezuelan oil remains in full effect.
- The military operation, involving air, land, and sea forces, was hailed by Trump as one of the "most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competency" with no U.S. soldier casualties reported.
President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday a significant U.S. military operation in Venezuela, which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The couple is reportedly aboard a U.S. warship, the USS Iwo Jima, and is being transported to New York to face American justice on narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges. Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed that Maduro and his wife would "soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts".
During a press conference, President Trump stated that the U.S. would "run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition". He emphasized that the U.S. retains all military operations until its demands have been fully met. The President also asserted that U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.
Regarding Venezuela's crucial oil industry, Trump announced intentions for large U.S. oil companies to enter the country and rebuild its infrastructure. He claimed that the United States originally built Venezuela’s oil industry, which was later seized by a socialist regime, calling it one of the largest thefts of American property in U.S. history. The embargo on all Venezuelan oil remains in full effect.
The military action, which involved air, land, and sea forces, was described by Trump as "one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competency". He noted that all Venezuelan military capacity was rendered powerless and that the lights of Caracas were turned off due to a "certain expertise" possessed by the U.S.. Crucially, President Trump confirmed that no U.S. soldiers were killed during the operation. While a second wave of attack was considered, Trump indicated it was "probably not" necessary due to the overwhelming success of the initial assault.
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.