Caracas, Jan 4: US President Donald Trump on Saturday said the United States plans to temporarily run Venezuela and utilise its vast oil reserves following a swift military operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power and took him out of the country.
Speaking hours after the operation, Trump said Washington would step in to stabilise Venezuela, repair its oil infrastructure and sell large quantities of oil to other countries. He described the action as a decisive move after months of pressure and covert planning, calling it one of the most assertive US interventions aimed at regime change in recent decades.
Maduro and his wife were detained overnight from their residence on a military base and transported to the United States, where they are expected to face prosecution in connection with narcotics-related charges. Trump said the operation was intended to curb drug trafficking and protect US interests, while also creating conditions for a “safe and orderly transition” in Venezuela.
The move has sparked sharp reactions. Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, condemned the action, calling it an unlawful intervention and demanding Maduro’s release. She initially rejected assuming power, though the country’s top court later directed her to take charge as interim president.
In Caracas, explosions were reported during the operation, followed by power outages in parts of the city. Some residents took to the streets in protest, while others stayed indoors amid uncertainty and fear. Casualties were reported, though exact numbers remain unclear.
Legal experts and US lawmakers have raised questions over the lack of congressional approval for the operation. An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council is expected to discuss the situation, as international concern grows over the legality and regional impact of the US action.
