In an unprecedented military operation, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was apprehended by United States forces in Caracas and transported to American soil on Saturday evening. The leftist leader arrived under heavy FBI escort at a National Guard facility in Newburgh, New York, marking a dramatic escalation in the ongoing political conflict between the two nations.
Eyewitnesses reported observing Maduro surrounded by federal agents as he disembarked from a US government aircraft. The Venezuelan president was subsequently escorted across the tarmac under tight security, with plans underway for his transfer via helicopter to New York City where he faces serious narcotics trafficking indictments.
The capture operation involved a targeted bombing raid in the Venezuelan capital that successfully extracted both Maduro and his wife from the country. This military action represents one of the most significant interventions in recent Western Hemisphere relations.
Concurrent with the operation, US President Donald Trump addressed journalists from his Florida residence, announcing plans for temporary American administration of Venezuela. The administration intends to manage the country’s transition while accessing its substantial petroleum reserves during this interim period.
“Our administration will oversee national operations until we can facilitate a secure, appropriate, and lawful transition of power,” Trump stated, underscoring the temporary nature of the extraordinary measure. This development signals a new chapter in the complex diplomatic relationship between the United States and Venezuela, with potential ramifications for regional stability and international law.