On January 3, 2026, US forces captured which Venezuelan president in a military operation in Caracas?

On January 3, 2026, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was indeed captured in a military operation in Caracas by US forces. This operation, codenamed "Operation Absolute Resolve," saw US special forces apprehend Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, at their residence in the Venezuelan capital. They were subsequently transported to the United States to face charges related to narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons (Review) possession in the Southern District of New York.

The capture followed months of escalating tensions and a sustained pressure campaign by the United States against Maduro's government. The US had accused Maduro of supporting drug traffickers, allegations he consistently denied. The operation marked a dramatic turn in the complex relationship between the two nations, which had been fraught with political disputes, economic sanctions, and accusations of human rights violations for years.

Following Maduro's capture, Delcy Rodríguez, the Vice President, was sworn in as acting president of Venezuela. The US intervention sparked varied international reactions, with many countries condemning it as a violation of international law and national sovereignty, while others, particularly NATO member states, expressed support. The US government, under President Donald Trump, justified the action as a law-enforcement operation with military support, asserting its "inherent constitutional authority" to undertake such actions and indicating a desire to help rebuild Venezuela, particularly its oil sector. Maduro, upon his arraignment, pleaded not guilty to the charges and declared himself a "prisoner of war," maintaining that he remained the legitimate president of Venezuela.