Washington/Caracas (dpa) – A dramatic power shift is unfolding in Venezuela, as President Nicolás Maduro is now in a New York prison awaiting trial on charges including “drug terrorism,” following a stunning military operation authorized by President Donald Trump. The move has ignited fierce opposition from Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who insists Maduro remains the country’s “only president.”
Operation “Absolute Resolve”: A Bold Strike
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Venezuela’s political landscape has been irrevocably altered by a swift and decisive U.S. military intervention.
Trump ordered the operation, dubbed “Absolute Resolve,” to begin Friday evening at 10:46 p.m. (US Eastern Time). The U.S. deployed over 150 bombers, fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, helicopters, and drones, the culmination of months of planning, according to U.S. officials.
At 2:01 a.m. local time in Caracas (7:01 a.m. CET), helicopters arrived at Maduro’s property, according to Chief of General Staff Dan Caine. Soldiers from the U.S. special unit Delta Force captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who both had existing U.S. arrest warrants, CBS and CNN reported. The couple was first flown to the warship “USS Iwo Jima” and then transported via a plane from the U.S. base at Guantánamo in Cuba to New York.
Trump stated that the operation resulted in only a few, non-serious injuries. However, Venezuelan authorities reported “several dozen” dead and injured, including soldiers and civilians.
“We Will Never Be Slaves Again”
Following Maduro’s removal, Vice President Rodríguez assumed the presidency on an acting basis, as ordered by the Supreme Court, until new elections can be held.
Addressing the Defense Council, Rodríguez vehemently defended Maduro as the “only president” and declared, “We will never be slaves again,” directly addressing Trump. She characterized the U.S. attack as a violation of the UN Charter.
Trump’s Vision for Venezuela
Rodríguez’s strong stance contrasts with Trump’s claim that she is open to cooperation. “We just had a conversation with her and she is basically ready to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again, simple as that,” he announced at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. “We will lead the country until we can ensure a safe, orderly and prudent transition.” He offered no specific details.
Trump emphasized the U.S. is prepared to use military force to protect its interests in Venezuela. “We are not afraid of ground troops. And we have to have some, we had ground troops on site last night.” He also highlighted the economic importance of oil-rich Venezuela, stating a partnership would make the nation “rich, independent and secure,” benefiting millions of Venezuelans in exile, including those in the U.S. Venezuela possesses the world’s largest oil reserves.
Calls for New Leadership
The timing of new elections remains uncertain. Venezuela’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, María Corina Machado, has called for opposition politician Edmundo González Urrutia to be appointed as Maduro’s successor, asserting that González Urrutia won the presidential election against Maduro a year and a half ago and should immediately assume office.
International Condemnation
Russia has urged the U.S. leadership to reconsider its actions and release Maduro and his wife, whom they consider the “lawfully elected president of a sovereign country,” according to a statement from the State Department.
China echoed this sentiment, calling for the immediate release of Maduro and his wife and urging the U.S. to cease attempts to destabilize the Venezuelan government, a State Department spokesman said.
Legal Challenges to the Operation
Lawyer Kai Ambos argues that the U.S. operation violates international law. “It is contrary to international law because there are actually only two justifications for the use of military force,” Ambos told WDR. “Either this is self-defense or a mandate from the United Nations.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the deployment, stating the measures were necessary “to protect and defend” those executing the arrest warrant for Maduro. The U.S. had offered a reward of up to 50 million dollars (around 43 million euros) for information leading to Maduro’s arrest.
International Response
The federal government has requested time to evaluate the operation. “The legal classification of the US operation is complex,” said Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The Foreign Office has extended the travel warning for Venezuela.
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