US Special Operations Detain Nicolás Maduro

​Geopolitical Shifting: US Special Operations Detain Nicolás Maduro

​A significant shift in international relations has occurred following a high-stakes military operation in Caracas. United States special forces have successfully detained Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, transporting them to New York to face federal charges.

​The Overnight Extraction Operation

​The operation, executed at approximately 02:00 local time, involved a sophisticated multi-branch military effort. Reports indicate that Delta Force, the U.S. Army’s elite counter-terrorism unit, led the ground extraction at the presidential compound.

​The mission’s success reportedly relied on several key tactical factors:

• ​Intelligence: Coordination with a source within the Venezuelan government provided the necessary location tracking.

• ​Aerial Support: Over 150 aircraft supported the mission, using strategic air strikes on military installations as a diversionary tactic.

• ​Technical Disruption: A blackout was initiated across the capital, Caracas, to facilitate the extraction under the cover of darkness.

​Legal Proceedings and Detention

​Following their capture, Maduro and Flores were transported via the USS Iwo Jima before being flown to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York. They are currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

​Federal prosecutors have leveled significant charges against the pair, primarily focusing on narcotics trafficking and weapons offenses.

​The Future of Venezuelan Governance

​In a public address, U.S. officials stated their intent to oversee a “transitional period” in Venezuela. A primary focus of this new administration appears to be the stabilization of the economy, with invitations extended to U.S. energy firms to resume operations within the country’s oil-rich borders.

​Global and Domestic Reactions

​The operation has sparked immediate international debate. While some Western allies see this as a path toward democratic transition, others have criticized the move as a breach of national sovereignty.

​Inside Venezuela, Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez has signaled that the remaining administration remains in a defensive posture. Meanwhile, U.S. leadership has suggested that additional military presence may be deployed if stability is not maintained during the power transition.