U.S. President Donald Trump, with a post on social media said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been captured and deported following extensive U.S. military operations in Caracas, where explosions were reportedly observed throughout the capital.
According to a Fox News report, U.S. Senator Mike Lee said that Senator Marco Rubio has confirmed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will face criminal charges in a U.S. court and that the military actions were carried out to protect and defend those executing the arrest orders.
He added that Rubio indicated the operation’s objective was to bring the Venezuelan president under control, hence no further attacks are anticipated.
The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions, including military operations and escalating rhetoric between the U.S. and Venezuela.
Weeks earlier, the U.S. seized a Venezuelan tanker in the Caribbean Sea and in another operation carried out attacks against suspected drug trafficking vessels.
The Trump administration has accused Maduro of facilitating the illegal immigration of “dangerous individuals” and leading a drug trafficking cartel targeting the United States, framing the ongoing military actions as a matter of U.S. national security.”
Some analysts offer a different perspective, emphasizing that control over Venezuela’s vast oil resources adds another layer to the geopolitical tension.
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, estimated at over 300 billion barrels, far surpassing those of countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Canada
