United States President Donald Trump has said Washington will take control of Venezuela and exploit its vast oil reserves following the dramatic seizure of President Nicolás Maduro during a military raid on Caracas.
Trump made the claim on Saturday, hours after US special forces reportedly captured Maduro and his wife during coordinated airstrikes that rocked the Venezuelan capital.
Maduro Seized in Overnight Operation
According to Trump, the operation involved a lightning assault in which US forces stormed key locations while airstrikes targeted multiple military sites.
Speaking at a press conference in Florida, Trump said the United States would oversee Venezuela’s administration through selected officials.
“We’re going to be running it with a group,” Trump said, adding that members of his cabinet would supervise the process.
Trump Hints at Ground Troops
Trump also suggested that US troops could deploy inside Venezuela if necessary.
“We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” he said, signalling a possible prolonged American presence.
Although US officials framed the operation as a law-enforcement action, Trump openly linked it to regime change and access to Venezuela’s oil wealth.
Oil Central to US Plan — Trump
Trump said major US oil companies would move into Venezuela to rebuild infrastructure and restart production.
“We’re going to have our very large oil companies go in, spend billions, and fix what’s broken,” he said. “We’ll be selling large amounts of oil.”
Trump later shared an image showing Maduro in custody aboard a US naval vessel, saying he would face narcotics and terrorism charges in New York.
Opposition, Allies React
US-backed opposition figure María Corina Machado hailed the operation as a turning point and called for opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia to assume power.
However, Trump dismissed suggestions that Machado should lead Venezuela, saying she lacked sufficient local support. Instead, he hinted at possible cooperation with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.
International Condemnation Grows
Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General expressed deep concern, warning that international law may have been violated.
China condemned the US action, while France cautioned that Venezuela’s crisis could not be resolved through external imposition.
Caracas Hit by Airstrikes
Residents in Caracas reported explosions and helicopter activity in the early hours of Saturday. Airstrikes reportedly hit military installations and an airbase, triggering panic across the city.
US military officials said about 150 aircraft supported the operation, which followed months of intelligence gathering.
Questions Over Legality
Trump defended the raid by blaming Venezuela for drug-related deaths in the US. However, critics noted that his justifications have shifted between narcotics trafficking, migration, and oil interests.
Several US lawmakers questioned the legality of the operation. Nevertheless, House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the action, calling it “decisive and justified.”
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