US Strike on Venezuela Sees Maduro Captured

Capture of Maduro by US Forces

The United States, under President Donald Trump, announced a large-scale strike on Venezuela’s capital Caracas and claimed it captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, flew them out of the country. They are now on a US warship headed to New York. The attacks—reported as explosions from low-flying aircraft—triggered power outages, civilian and military casualties (unconfirmed figures), street mobilization by pro-government forces, and international condemnation. The U.S. framed the action as part of sustained pressure accusing Maduro of running a “narco-state” and election fraud; Venezuela called it an imperialist attack. Global reactions ranged from support by some allies to strong condemnation from countries including Russia, Cuba, Brazil and calls for restraint from the EU. The legality and congressional notification for the strikes are disputed.  Key points

• Trump announced a U.S. “large-scale strike” on Caracas and said Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores were captured and flown out; U.S. officials claim coordinated law-enforcement involvement.
• Explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported across Caracas; Venezuelan government declared an “imperialist attack,” called for street mobilization and enacted emergency national-defense measures.
• The U.S. has long accused Maduro of narco-terrorism and election rigging; Maduro was indicted in the U.S. in 2020. Washington had intensified strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats and increased military presence in the region.
• The action provoked immediate international responses: condemnations from Russia, Cuba, Brazil and others; calls for restraint and adherence to international law from the EU and various governments; opinion in the U.S. Congress is divided over legal authorization.

Geopolitics of US Military Strikes on Venezuela

The intervention recalls past U.S. actions in the region, drew condemnation from allies of Venezuela (Russia, Cuba, Iran) and mixed responses across Latin America; risks include legal questions, congressional backlash, and regional instability.

China was the biggest importer of Venezuelian oil but it has other sources thus impact on China will be small. Most of the oil flowing to China was payback on prior loans from China. Our view is that China will protest but do little here. Russia has its hands full with Ukraine and is no possition here to do anything.

Cuba is most as risk as we stated in our previous article. Cuba is highly depended on Venezuelian oil and this will have a major impact on the Cuban regime. It sells some of the oil from Venezuelian for hard currency. Thus, Cuba is the biggest looser here.

As we mention in our last article, we see Cuba in the crosshairs of US action. This was covered in a previous post on the New National Security Strategy of US.

The situation is still fluid and we don’t know the end game here. Our guest is that the US will still blockade oil from Venezuela until the situation stabilizes. We don’t see the remnants of the Maduro regime holding power without money from oil exports.