After Midnight Fall, Maduro Faces Narco-Terror Charges: Trump Warns Of Second Strike, Vows To Run Venezuela

Last Updated:January 03, 2026, 23:02 IST

Donald Trump confirmed that American forces would remain in Venezuela to oversee a 'proper transition'

The Trump administration has justified the intervention as a necessary measure to dismantle what it describes as a 'criminal narco-state'. File image

In a seismic shift for Western Hemispheric geopolitics, United States President Donald Trump has announced that the US will essentially “run the country" of Venezuela following the successful capture of President Nicolás Maduro. In a series of statements made throughout Saturday, Trump confirmed that American forces would remain in Venezuela to oversee a “proper transition", a move that marks the most significant direct military intervention in the region in nearly four decades.

The Capture: Maduro Aboard the USS Iwo Jima

The President provided visual confirmation of the high-stakes operation, codenamed “Southern Spear", by posting a photograph on Truth Social showing Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, aboard the USS Iwo Jima. The amphibious assault ship is currently in the Caribbean, heading towards New York. Trump described the extraction—reportedly carried out by elite Delta Force operators—as a “pinpoint" and “surgical" success, noting that Maduro and Flores were “captured and flown out of the country" in a coordinated effort with US law enforcement.

Upon arrival in New York, Maduro was set to be transported to a federal court in Manhattan. US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that he will face a litany of charges, including narcoterrorism, cocaine trafficking, and weapons offences related to his leadership of the so-called “Cartel of the Suns". The US Department of Justice had previously offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest, and officials have vowed that the deposed leader will face “the full wrath of American justice".

Indefinite Control and Economic Reconstruction

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the President’s announcement was his commitment to maintaining a US presence in Caracas. Trump told reporters from Mar-a-Lago that the US is “there now" and will stay until a new, “proper" administration is established. He explicitly stated, “We are going to run it, essentially, until such time as a proper transition can take place."

A key pillar of this interim period involves the immediate revitalisation of Venezuela’s crippled oil industry. Trump announced that major American oil companies would be sent into the country to invest billions of dollars to repair broken infrastructure. The goal, according to the White House, is to restore production from the world’s largest oil reserves to benefit both the Venezuelan people and global markets, while also securing the return of what Vice President JD Vance called “stolen oil".

Threat of a ‘Second Wave’

While the initial pre-dawn strikes on Saturday targeted key military installations—including Fort Tiuna and the La Carlota airbase—the President warned that the U.S. military is far from finished if resistance persists. Trump revealed that the Pentagon had already prepared for a “second and much larger attack" involving a massive “wave" of force.

“The first attack was so successful, we probably don’t have to do a second," the President told Fox News, “But we are prepared to do a second wave—a much bigger wave, actually—if we need to do so." This warning serves as a direct message to the remains of the Venezuelan military and pro-government “colectivo" militias who might attempt to mount a counter-offensive.

A Region in Shock

The fallout has been immediate. While Venezuelan opposition figures such as María Corina Machado have signalled that a “new era" is beginning, leaders in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico have issued sharp condemnations, calling the rendition a violation of international law.

In Caracas, residents have reported widespread power outages and a state of national emergency.

Fallout

China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba have issued blistering condemnations, labelling the strikes a flagrant violation of international law and a “hegemonic" act of state terrorism.

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer clarified that Britain was not involved and called for the upholding of international law. Meanwhile, US domestic reaction is split; while many Republicans have lauded the “inherent authority" of the President to protect American interests, Democratic lawmakers have slammed the strikes as an “unauthorised and illegal" war launched without Congressional approval. As 2026 begins, the world now watches to see if this daring rendition will lead to a democratic transition or ignite a protracted regional conflict.

News world After Midnight Fall, Maduro Faces Narco-Terror Charges: Trump Warns Of Second Strike, Vows To Run Venezuela

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