US Strikes Venezuela: President, Wife Captured
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States would temporarily run Venezuela following American military strikes and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, marking a dramatic shift in US policy and raising fresh questions about sovereignty, nation-building and regional stability.
Speaking at a news conference hours after the operation, Trump said the US would administer Venezuela "until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition." He added that Washington was prepared to launch a second, "much larger" military operation if necessary.
Trump said no US service members were killed during the strikes and confirmed that American forces had been operating inside Venezuela. Asked whether US troops would remain on the ground, he replied, "We're not afraid of boots on the ground," adding that the military had "boots on the ground last night at a very high level."
Pressed on how the US would govern Venezuela, Trump said officials were in the process of designating individuals to oversee the country. "We're designating people right now," he said, adding that details would be announced soon. When asked who would run Venezuela, Trump gestured toward himself and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying it would be "largely for a period of time the people that are standing right behind me."
The remarks signal a sharp turn toward direct US involvement in Venezuela's internal affairs. Trump has previously been a vocal critic of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, but his comments suggest a willingness to engage in limited nation-building under US supervision.
Trump said US oil companies would play a central role in rebuilding Venezuela's economy, particularly its energy sector. "The oil business in Venezuela has been a bust, a total bust," he said. "We're going to have our very large United States oil companies go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, and start making money for the country."
Venezuela holds some of the world's largest proven oil reserves, but years of mismanagement, sanctions and political turmoil have severely reduced production. Just before the news conference, Trump posted an image he said showed Maduro aboard the US warship USS Iwo Jima, appearing blindfolded and wearing ear protection. US officials said Maduro had been captured during the operation and was being transferred to the United States.
Earlier in the day, US authorities said Maduro had been indicted in New York on drugs and weapons charges. The US Attorney General said he would "face the full wrath of American justice." Maduro has previously denied the allegations and rejected claims that he led or protected drug trafficking networks.
Asked whether US forces could have killed Maduro during the raid, Trump said it was possible. "There was a lot of gunfire," he said, adding that Maduro had been attempting to reach what he believed was a safe location.
Venezuela's government declared a national emergency, denouncing what it called "extremely serious military aggression" by the US. Officials in Caracas accused Washington of violating international law and attacking both military and civilian targets.
The US announcement that it intends to administer Venezuela, even temporarily, has intensified international concern and sparked fears of prolonged instability in Latin America, as governments and global institutions weigh the implications of one of the most far-reaching U.S. interventions in the region in decades.
India issues advisory
New Delhi: In light of recent developments in Venezuela, the Government of India has issued a travel advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to the country until further notice. "In view of recent developments in Venezuela, Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Venezuela," the advisory read.
Indian nationals in Venezuela are further urged to stay in regular contact with the Embassy of India in Caracas for assistance and updates. The Embassy can be reached via email at cons.caracas@mea.gov.in or through its emergency helpline at +58-412-9584288, which is also available for WhatsApp calls. The Embassy continues to monitor the situation closely and has assured that necessary support will be extended to Indian citizens as required.
