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U.S. Captures Maduro, Indicts Him in New York, Delcy Rodríguez Assumes Presidency

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U.S. Forces Capture Maduro and Cilia Flores in Caracas The U.S. launched a large‑scale strike on Caracas overnight, seizing President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores and transporting them to a warship before flying them to New York City [1][2][3]. Explosions rocked the capital, with smoke from a hangar and a brief power outage reported by residents [1]. President Trump announced the operation on Truth Social, calling it a “brilliant” and decisive action [2][3].

Indictments Filed in Southern District of New York Attorney General Pam Bondi unsealed an indictment charging Maduro and Flores with narco‑terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons [1][2][3]. The charges will be prosecuted in the Southern District of New York, bringing the duo before American courts [1][2]. Bondi emphasized that the case reflects a long‑running investigation into the regime’s illicit activities [3].

Delcy Rodríguez Named Acting President by Supreme Court Venezuela’s Supreme Court ruled Maduro temporarily unable to perform his duties due to “foreign military aggression” and appointed Vice President Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez as acting president to ensure continuity of government [1]. Rodríguez publicly demanded proof of life for Maduro and asserted that his whereabouts remained unknown [2][3]. The appointment grants her full presidential powers pending further developments [1].

International Reactions Include UN Emergency Meeting and Russian Condemnation The United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency session on Monday to address the U.S. operation and its compliance with international law [1]. Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strike as armed aggression and called for clarification, warning that Latin America should remain a zone of peace [3]. Multiple governments and international bodies urged respect for the UN Charter and questioned the legality of the unilateral action [2].

Regional Disruptions and Legal Controversy Follow the Strike Caribbean airspace was closed during the operation, grounding hundreds of flights before reopening at midnight, affecting holiday travel across the region [1]. Critics in Washington, including Senator Andy Kim, argued the strike bypassed the constitutionally required congressional approval for armed conflict [2]. The U.S. administration defended the mission as a law‑enforcement operation, while opponents highlighted potential breaches of both domestic and international statutes [2].

Sources

Timeline

2025 – The United States conducts a months‑long pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro’s regime, laying the diplomatic and covert groundwork that Trump later frames as the “culmination” of that effort. [3]

Jan 2, 2026 – U.S. forces launch a large‑scale strike on Caracas, capture President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, and fly them out of Venezuela; Trump posts on Truth Social “Maduro is captured” and later calls the operation “brilliant.” [3][1]

Jan 2, 2026 (overnight) – Explosions rock Caracas, smoke pours from a hangar, power outages spread, and residents describe aircraft and blasts shaking the capital. [2]

Jan 2‑3, 2026 – Attorney General Pam Bondi unseals an indictment in the Southern District of New York charging Maduro and Flores with narco‑terrorism, cocaine importation, and illegal possession of machine guns, posting the charges to X and declaring they will “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil.” [1][3][2]

Jan 3, 2026 – A U.S. warship transports Maduro and Flores to a plane that lands in New York, and authorities move them to a Brooklyn detention facility to begin prosecution. [2][3]

Jan 3, 2026 – Venezuela’s Supreme Court rules Maduro temporarily unable to govern because of foreign military aggression and appoints Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as acting president to ensure administrative continuity and national defense. [2]

Jan 3, 2026 – The Russian Foreign Ministry condemns the U.S. action as “armed aggression,” demands immediate clarification, and asserts that Latin America must remain a zone of peace. [1]

Jan 3, 2026 – Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau tweets “Maduro is gone – a new dawn for Venezuela,” signaling U.S. confidence in regime change. [3]

Jan 3, 2026 – President Trump announces he will hold a news conference later in the day to detail the operation and its implications. [1]

Jan 3, 2026 – In a phone interview with The New York Times, Trump describes the strike as a “brilliant operation” and praises the planning and troops involved. [3]

Jan 4, 2026 (midnight) – Caribbean airspace restrictions lift, and airlines resume hundreds of flights, easing holiday travel disruptions caused by the strike. [2]

Jan 4, 2026 – Trump declares that the United States will take over Venezuela’s oil production, framing it as a strategic benefit for America. [2]

Jan 4, 2026 – Senator Andy Kim criticizes the administration for bypassing the Constitution’s war‑powers requirement, saying officials “misrepresented the matter to Congress.” [3]

Jan 5, 2026 – The United Nations Security Council schedules an emergency meeting to debate the legality and consequences of the U.S. capture of Maduro. [2]

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