U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would assume control of Venezuela following what he described as a successful overnight military operation that resulted in the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas.
Speaking from Mar-a-Lago in Florida early Sunday (Manila time), Trump said U.S. forces launched a coordinated air, land, and sea assault that quickly overwhelmed military units loyal to Maduro. He claimed the operation ended with the couple taken into custody without any American casualties or equipment losses.
Trump said the U.S. would temporarily administer Venezuela while overseeing what he called a “safe and orderly transition” toward a new government. American troops, he added, would remain in the country during this transition period.
He warned Venezuelan political and military leaders against resisting U.S. authority, saying the fate of Maduro should serve as a lesson to those he accused of oppressing their people or threatening U.S. security. Trump also confirmed that the U.S. oil embargo on Venezuela remains in effect and that American naval forces continue to operate in the region.
According to Trump, Maduro and Flores face federal charges in New York related to alleged narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, and are being transported to the United States to stand trial. He accused the former Venezuelan leader of running a criminal network tied to drug smuggling and violent gangs operating beyond Venezuela’s borders.
Trump said the U.S. plans to involve American oil companies in rehabilitating Venezuela’s energy sector, describing it as severely damaged. He claimed that restoring oil production would help revive the country’s economy, while stressing that Washington retains all military options should resistance arise.
